Boosting of Power Conversion Efficiency of 2D ZnO Nanostructures-Based DSSC by the Lorentz Force with Chitosan Polymer Electrolyte

Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated from titanium tetra-isopropoxide (TTIP) treated Li doped two dimensional (2D) ZnO nanostructures based photoelectrode with chitosan polymer electrolyte is reported here. The defect induced room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) is observed and has been established from the bound magnetic polaron mechanism (BMP) for an optimum concentration of Li doped ZnO (ZnO:Li) nanostructures. Also, the incorporation of Li in the 2D ZnO nanostructure (2DZL) reduces the charge transfer resistance and hence an enhanced PCE of 5.58% (which is about two and half times superior to that of pristine ZnO). As the fabricated 2DZL exhibits RTFM, a field of 200 Oe when applied to this DSSC showed an improved PCE of 5.83%. The mechanism of such an enhancement is explained from the effect of Lorentz force and the results are discussed.