Synthesis of zinc oxide and tin oxide (ZnO/SnO2) nanocomposite for photoanode applications in dye sensitized solar cell

Zinc oxide and tin oxide (ZnO/SnO 2 ) nanocomposites were synthesized using a simple chemical co-precipitation method. The XRD results confirmed that tin oxide with rutile structure and zinc oxide hexagonal phase are formed separately. Further morphological studies revealed that sheet like ZnO formed during chemical reaction while spherical SnO₂ nanoparticles were embedded within the ZnO matrix. The presence of elements confirmed in the EDAX analysis and ensured their uniform distribution through elemental mapping. The FTIR spectra showed the characteristics absorption peaks at 437 and 602 cm −1 validates the presence of Zn–O and Sn–O–Sn respectively. The optical properties of ZnO/SnO 2 nanocomposites were studied using UV–Visible. The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated from different composition of ZnO/SnO 2 . The highest photo conversion efficiency of 5.7% with short circuit current density ( J sc ) of 11.2 mA/cm 2 and an open circuit voltage of 0.7 V for optimized composition. Interestingly, the presence of SnO 2 within ZnO/SnO 2 nanocomposites made a significant reduction in charge transfer resistance at photoanode and electrolyte interface.