Review article
ZnO Tetrapods: Synthesis and Applications in Solar Cells
Luting Yan
; School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, P.R. China; School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Ashraf Uddin
; School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Haiwei Wang
; School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, P.R. China
Abstract
Zinc oxide (ZnO) tetrapods have received much interest due to their unique morphology, that is, four arms connected to one centre. Tetrapod networks possess the excellent electronic properties of the ZnO semiconductor, which is attractive for photoelectrode materials in energy-conversion devices because of their advantages in electron extraction and transportation. In this review, we have discussed recent advancements in the field of ZnO tetrapod synthesis, including vapour transport synthesis and the wet chemical method, together with their advantages and disadvantages in terms of morphology control and yield regulation. The developments and improvements in the applications of ZnO nanotetrapods in photovoltaics, including dye-sensitized solar cells and polymer solar cells, are also described. Our aim is to give readers a comprehensive and critical overview of this unique morphology of ZnO, including synthesis control and growth mechanism, and to understand the role of this particular morphology in the development of solar cells. The future research directions in ZnO tetrapods-based solar cell are also discussed.
Keywords
ZnO tetrapods; synthesis; application; photovoltaic
Hrčak ID:
142568
URI
Publication date:
1.1.2015.
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