Increased quantum efficiency in hybrid photoelectrochemical cell consisting of thionine and zinc oxide nanoparticles

In this paper we report our studies on hybrid photoelectrochemical cell made of thionine and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Nanostructured zinc oxide was synthesized in the laboratory by time and cost effective method. The photoelectrochemical cell yielded voltage of high magnitude (401.5 mV) and efficiency (1.21%) compared to other conventional photoelectrochemical cells. The morphology of the nanostructured zinc oxide was identified by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy studies. Spectral studies indicated adsorption of the dye molecules on zinc oxide nanoparticles, the reason for efficient absorption of the incident photons. During photoexcitation the thionine molecules and the zinc oxide nanoparticles acted as donor–acceptor cluster which produced photovoltage.