Green synthesis of hematite nano flakes and their application as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells
Abstract This study pioneers using hematite nanoflakes as a viable alternative to traditional platinum counter-electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), demonstrating its effectiveness for the first time. Besides such a novelty, the used hematite nanoflakes were bio-engineered using ginger e...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94974-3 |
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| author | Emma Panzi Mukhokosi Emmanuel Mushebo Stella Nassejje Nandipha L. Botha Dhayalan Velauthapillai Malik Maaza |
| author_facet | Emma Panzi Mukhokosi Emmanuel Mushebo Stella Nassejje Nandipha L. Botha Dhayalan Velauthapillai Malik Maaza |
| author_sort | Emma Panzi Mukhokosi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study pioneers using hematite nanoflakes as a viable alternative to traditional platinum counter-electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), demonstrating its effectiveness for the first time. Besides such a novelty, the used hematite nanoflakes were bio-engineered using ginger extract as an effective chelating reducing agent. From the X-ray diffraction studies, it was observed that the sample annealed at 700 °C formed a highly crystalline α-Fe2O3, with a crystallite nano-scaled size of the order of 46.3 nm. The scanning electron microscopy investigations indicated a preferred layered nanoflakes morphology while the optical properties revealed a direct band gap of 2.30 eV. Using N-719 dye as a sensitizer on TiO2 photoanode and I−/I3 − as electrolyte, the DSSC was fabricated. Such a cell exhibited significant DSSC responses, namely; a short circuit current density (J SC ) of 7.0 mAcm−2, an open circuit voltage (V OC ) of 389 mV, and a fill factor (FF) of 75.3% in addition to an efficiency (η) of 2.05%. Based on such a significant photo-conversion response using bio-engineered active counter electrodes, this study provides a cost-effective approach for synthesizing hematite NFs that have potential applications not only in DSSC but also in sensors, water splitting, and electrochemical devices. |
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| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b400b7f3d2054b8ba8b08af8d1476b912025-08-20T02:05:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-011511810.1038/s41598-025-94974-3Green synthesis of hematite nano flakes and their application as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cellsEmma Panzi Mukhokosi0Emmanuel Mushebo1Stella Nassejje2Nandipha L. Botha3Dhayalan Velauthapillai4Malik Maaza5Department of Physics, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Kampala International UniversityDepartment of Physics, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Kampala International UniversityDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyambogo UniversityUNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South AfricaFaculty of Engineering and Science, Western Norway University of Applied SciencesUNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South AfricaAbstract This study pioneers using hematite nanoflakes as a viable alternative to traditional platinum counter-electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), demonstrating its effectiveness for the first time. Besides such a novelty, the used hematite nanoflakes were bio-engineered using ginger extract as an effective chelating reducing agent. From the X-ray diffraction studies, it was observed that the sample annealed at 700 °C formed a highly crystalline α-Fe2O3, with a crystallite nano-scaled size of the order of 46.3 nm. The scanning electron microscopy investigations indicated a preferred layered nanoflakes morphology while the optical properties revealed a direct band gap of 2.30 eV. Using N-719 dye as a sensitizer on TiO2 photoanode and I−/I3 − as electrolyte, the DSSC was fabricated. Such a cell exhibited significant DSSC responses, namely; a short circuit current density (J SC ) of 7.0 mAcm−2, an open circuit voltage (V OC ) of 389 mV, and a fill factor (FF) of 75.3% in addition to an efficiency (η) of 2.05%. Based on such a significant photo-conversion response using bio-engineered active counter electrodes, this study provides a cost-effective approach for synthesizing hematite NFs that have potential applications not only in DSSC but also in sensors, water splitting, and electrochemical devices.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94974-3Hematite nano flakesGreen synthesisGinger’ natural extractPhoto-conversionDSSC |
| spellingShingle | Emma Panzi Mukhokosi Emmanuel Mushebo Stella Nassejje Nandipha L. Botha Dhayalan Velauthapillai Malik Maaza Green synthesis of hematite nano flakes and their application as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells Scientific Reports Hematite nano flakes Green synthesis Ginger’ natural extract Photo-conversion DSSC |
| title | Green synthesis of hematite nano flakes and their application as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells |
| title_full | Green synthesis of hematite nano flakes and their application as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells |
| title_fullStr | Green synthesis of hematite nano flakes and their application as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Green synthesis of hematite nano flakes and their application as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells |
| title_short | Green synthesis of hematite nano flakes and their application as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells |
| title_sort | green synthesis of hematite nano flakes and their application as a counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells |
| topic | Hematite nano flakes Green synthesis Ginger’ natural extract Photo-conversion DSSC |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94974-3 |
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