Characterization and Synthesis of α-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles and α-Fe2O3 /CuO Nanocomposite by hydrothermal method and application them in a solar cell

Abstract

CuO and α-Fe2O3 metal oxide nanostructures were prepared using the hydrothermal technique. In addition, α-Fe2O3/CuO nanocomposites were generated using the hydrothermal method by fusing them in equal amounts. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the properties of the produced composites (FE-SEM). , respectively, according to the images from FE-SEM, and the α-Fe2O3/CuO nanocomposites organized as (cube). The X-ray diffraction results indicated the presence of CuO and α-Fe2O3 a (monoclinic, hexagonal structure), respectively. with average crystal sizes (18.03, 14.55 and 23.22) nm for CuO, α-Fe2O3 and α-Fe2O3/CuO, respectively. The optical properties of the prepared compounds were studied through visible and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The optical band gap is (2.1, 1.6 and 1.8) eV for CuO, α-Fe2O3 NPs and α-Fe2O3/CuO nanocomposites. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated based on CuO, α-Fe2O3 NPs and α-α-Fe2O3/CuO were cast on a perfluorinated tin oxide front electrode. While the FTO carbon/glass substrate serves as the back electrode. Iodine/iodide KI/I2 was used as the electrolyte solution, and the natural green dye was used. The solar cell efficiencies of CuO, α-Fe2O3Nps, α-Fe2O3/CuO nanocomposites of CuO and α-Fe2O3/CuO nanocomposites/dye-leek green were (1.51, 1.7and 1.56), respectively.