Synthesis And Characterization Of Gel Polymer Electrolyte And Zinc Oxide For Photoelectrochemical Cell
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Date
2011-07
Authors
Alias, Siti Salwa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
This project is divided into three sections: preparation and characterization of gel
polymer electrolyte (GPE) based on commercial agar; synthesis and characterization of
nanoparticles powders zinc oxide (ZnO); and fabrication of photoelectrochemical cell
(PEC). The GPE was prepared by dissolving agar powder in glycerol. Various
concentrations of ammonium iodide and iodine were added to the agar paste until an
optimum conductivity was reached. The optimum conductivity of (2.64 ± 0.19) x 10-3 S
cm-1 was obtained from a sample of agar paste with 1.0 M NH4I and 0.2 μM I2
(A1.0N0.2I). The A1.0N0.2I had the lowest viscosity values of (1.17 ± 0.29) Pa s. All
GPEs showed Arrhenius behavior with the lowest activation energy value of 0.25 eV for
A1.0N0.2I. A1.0N0.2I also showed good physical appearance. Meanwhile, the ZnO
nanoparticles powders were synthesized by sol-gel centrifugation process at various pH.
ZnO synthesized at pH 9 had the maximum crystallite size (25.36 nm). The average
particles diameter sizes were 49.98 nm and 48.1 nm, respectively, measured from field
emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope analysis.
The lattice spacing is 5.900 Å between adjacent lattice planes. The average particle size
affects the Fourier transform infrared peaks shift. The ZnO pH 9 had good optical
properties with band gap energy of 3.31 eV. The fabrication of ITO-ZnO (N719 dye)/
A1.0N0.2I GPE/ ITO PEC had the open circuit voltage = 1.38 V, (VOC) short circuit
current density = 7.5 mA cm-2, fill factor = 0.18 of and overall conversion efficiency
percentage = 1.9 % under illumination of 100 mW cm-2.
Description
Keywords
Synthesis and characterization of gel polymer electrolyte , and zinc oxide for photoelectrochemical cell