Preparation and characterization of photo electrochemical cells based on nanostructured ZnO and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

• Main Author: Ayu, Aaron Alexander
• Other Authors: Du Hejun
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Material testing and characterization
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40499
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Today, the need for energy is one of the most important issues the world faces and it is also the driving force for this project. The emphasis of this project is to find a cheap and suitable semiconductor and to study its potential and efficiency in water splitting, in order to generate H2 gas for usage as a renewable source of fuel. Water splitting has been around since 1970, using TiO2 as photocatalyst. However, it is far too expensive and not efficient enough to be industrialized. ZnO has a similar bandgap as TiO2, it is preferred to TiO2 as the base material because it is cheaper, has better electrons mobility and easier produced crystalline structures. In order to improve the efficiency of ZnO, MWCNT are coated on the surface of ZnO. The synthesis of the PEC cell with glass/FtO as base is done using Chemical Bath Deposition Technique. The acquired samples are then analyzed and explained with the use of SEM diagram, XRD analysis, Voltage open circuit, Short Circuit Current and Fill Factor. Analysis of the samples revealed that when ZnO are coated with a certain number of times of MWCNT, it reflected an increment of Short Circuit Current and Voltage open circuit, as compared to ZnO without MWCNT coating. These results are positive indication of increase in photocatalytic activity produced by the coating of MWCNT.