Herlin Pujiarti, Nabella Sholeha, Adisria Marise Afianti, Markus Diantoro, Muhammad Safwan Abd Aziz
Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods are promising photoanode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due to their high electron mobility, favorable aspect ratio, and tunable optoelectronic properties. In this study, vertically aligned ZnO nanorods were hydrothermally grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates and doped with Al3+ (1–7 at%) to optimize charge transport. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed successful Al3+ incorporation, evidenced by a slight peak shift, while retaining the hexagonal wurtzite structure. The nanorods exhibited controlled morphologies, with diameters ranging from 78 to 141 nm and aspect ratios varying between 13% and 37%. Optical characterization revealed that sensitization with D205 dye extended light absorption into the visible spectrum, significantly improving photon harvesting. Among the tested dopant concentrations, the 1% Al3+-doped ZnO (AZO-1%) photoanode demonstrated optimal performance, achieving a short-circuit current density (JSC) of 25.7 mA/cm2 and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.15%. These results highlight the synergistic effects of Al3+ doping and nanostructural engineering in enhancing DSSC performance through improved charge collection and reduced recombination. © 2025, Joint Journal of Novel Carbon Resource Sciences and Green Asia Strategy. All rights reserved.
Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Center of Advanced Materials and Renewable Energy, Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), Jl. Semarang No. 5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Research Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (RCNN), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Jl. Ganesha No. 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia; Laser Center, Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-SIR), University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Johor Bahru, 81310, Malaysia
