Photovoltaic application of ZnS loaded silicon dioxide rich composites

Publication date: 15 February 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 116
Author(s): A.M. Kute, S.A. Waghuley
In the present work, the composites between ZnS nanoparticles and silicon dioxide were prepared by solid state diffusion method. The oxidation of silicic acid to silicon dioxide and simultaneously formation of composites between ZnS and silicic acid were carried out during solid state diffusion process. As-prepared samples were characterized by using X-ray diffractions (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometers (UV–vis), Raman spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and photovoltaic response measurements respectively. The influence of increasing ZnS concentration in composites was reflected from photovoltaic characteristics. The highest power conversion efficiency was found to be 1.954% associated with 25wt.% ZnS loaded SiO2 composite, whereas the highest value of fill factor for 10wt.% ZnS loaded SiO2 composite in presence of light source of power 0.0104W/m². These composites may be practically useful in a region where the light intensity is very weak like polar region (South and North pole).

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