Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells
Green synthesis of metal oxides has attracted attention as the latest technology in synthesizing metal oxide nanoparticles due to its simplicity, cheapness, non-toxicity and its ability for large scale production. Metal oxides find applications in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as counter elect...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://journal.nsps.org.ng/index.php/jnsps/article/view/2309 |
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| author | Emma Panzi Mukhokosi Stephen Tenywa Nandipha L. Bothab Shohreh Azizi Mathapelo Pearl Seopela Malik Maaza |
| author_facet | Emma Panzi Mukhokosi Stephen Tenywa Nandipha L. Bothab Shohreh Azizi Mathapelo Pearl Seopela Malik Maaza |
| author_sort | Emma Panzi Mukhokosi |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Green synthesis of metal oxides has attracted attention as the latest technology in synthesizing metal oxide nanoparticles due to its simplicity, cheapness, non-toxicity and its ability for large scale production. Metal oxides find applications in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as counter electrodes (CEs) and photo-anodes. However, applications of green synthesized metal oxides as counter electrodes have not been fully explored. In this study, CuO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract and applied as a CE in DSSC. Uniformly synthesized CuO NPs were subjected to various characterization tools to obtain the crystal structure, surface morphology, particle size, optical properties, chemical bonds and photovoltaic properties. Using a natural dye from of Cucurbita maxima as a photon absorber, a short circuit current density ( Jsc) of 4.2 µA/cm2, open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.17 V, a maximum power (Pmax) of 0.18 mW/cm2, and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.8 × 10?4 % under one-sun illumination were obtained.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4f759d31ed4c441e8ab2b9f1e9272f5e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2714-2817 2714-4704 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-4f759d31ed4c441e8ab2b9f1e9272f5e2025-01-17T18:52:26ZengNigerian Society of Physical SciencesJournal of Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences2714-28172714-47042025-02-017110.46481/jnsps.2025.2309Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cellsEmma Panzi Mukhokosi0Stephen Tenywa1Nandipha L. Bothab2Shohreh Azizi3Mathapelo Pearl Seopela4Malik Maaza5Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyambogo University, PO Box 1, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyambogo University, PO Box 1, Kampala, UgandaCollege of Graduate Studies, UNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa Materials; Materials Research Department, Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS, PO Box 722, Cape Town, South AfricaCollege of Graduate Studies, UNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa Materials; Research Department, Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS, PO Box 722, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of South Africa, Auckland Park Campus, PO Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, Johannesburg, South AfricaCollege of Graduate Studies, UNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Materials Research Department, Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS, PO Box 722, Cape Town, South Africa Green synthesis of metal oxides has attracted attention as the latest technology in synthesizing metal oxide nanoparticles due to its simplicity, cheapness, non-toxicity and its ability for large scale production. Metal oxides find applications in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as counter electrodes (CEs) and photo-anodes. However, applications of green synthesized metal oxides as counter electrodes have not been fully explored. In this study, CuO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract and applied as a CE in DSSC. Uniformly synthesized CuO NPs were subjected to various characterization tools to obtain the crystal structure, surface morphology, particle size, optical properties, chemical bonds and photovoltaic properties. Using a natural dye from of Cucurbita maxima as a photon absorber, a short circuit current density ( Jsc) of 4.2 µA/cm2, open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.17 V, a maximum power (Pmax) of 0.18 mW/cm2, and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.8 × 10?4 % under one-sun illumination were obtained. https://journal.nsps.org.ng/index.php/jnsps/article/view/2309Green synthesisDSSCsCuOCucurbita maximaNatural dye |
| spellingShingle | Emma Panzi Mukhokosi Stephen Tenywa Nandipha L. Bothab Shohreh Azizi Mathapelo Pearl Seopela Malik Maaza Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells Journal of Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences Green synthesis DSSCs CuO Cucurbita maxima Natural dye |
| title | Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_full | Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_fullStr | Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_short | Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_sort | green synthesis of cuo nanoparticles from cucurbita maxima leaf extract a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| topic | Green synthesis DSSCs CuO Cucurbita maxima Natural dye |
| url | https://journal.nsps.org.ng/index.php/jnsps/article/view/2309 |
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