Microwave-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanostructured photoanodes for advanced dye-sensitized solar cells

Syed Ezaz Haider Gilani; Muhammad Younas; Rabia Nazar; Muhammad Hamza Rasheed; Umer Mehmood

doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139146

Microwave-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanostructured photoanodes for advanced dye-sensitized solar cells

Syed Ezaz Haider Gilani
, Muhammad Younas
, Rabia Nazar
, Muhammad Hamza Rasheed
, Umer Mehmood^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Core Research Facilities

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A rapid, eco-friendly microwave-assisted synthesis was developed for Zn-based nanostructured photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), ensuring sustainability and scalability. This green approach eliminated hazardous solvents and energy-intensive steps while achieving precise morphological control for enhanced dye adsorption, charge transport, and stability. SEM and XRD characterizations confirmed well-defined ZnO nanostructures with favorable optical and electronic properties. The ZnO-based DSSCs achieved a power conversion efficiency of 4.78%, comparable to TiO₂-based counterparts (4.90%), with superior operational stability. This study presents a scalable, sustainable route for high-performance ZnO-based DSSCs, advancing next-generation photovoltaic technologies.

Original language	English
Article number	139146
Journal	Materials Letters
Volume	400
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139146
State	Published - 1 Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier B.V.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

DSSCs
Microwave-assisted synthesis
Nanoparticles
Solar energy materials
Thin films

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Mechanics of Materials
Mechanical Engineering

Access to Document

10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139146

Cite this

@article{901c3f6fd5ec4c729fec409e027e2c2e,

title = "Microwave-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanostructured photoanodes for advanced dye-sensitized solar cells",

abstract = "A rapid, eco-friendly microwave-assisted synthesis was developed for Zn-based nanostructured photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), ensuring sustainability and scalability. This green approach eliminated hazardous solvents and energy-intensive steps while achieving precise morphological control for enhanced dye adsorption, charge transport, and stability. SEM and XRD characterizations confirmed well-defined ZnO nanostructures with favorable optical and electronic properties. The ZnO-based DSSCs achieved a power conversion efficiency of 4.78\%, comparable to TiO2-based counterparts (4.90\%), with superior operational stability. This study presents a scalable, sustainable route for high-performance ZnO-based DSSCs, advancing next-generation photovoltaic technologies.",

keywords = "DSSCs, Microwave-assisted synthesis, Nanoparticles, Solar energy materials, Thin films",

author = "\{Haider Gilani\}, \{Syed Ezaz\} and Muhammad Younas and Rabia Nazar and Rasheed, \{Muhammad Hamza\} and Umer Mehmood",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139146",

language = "English",

volume = "400",

journal = "Materials Letters",

issn = "0167-577X",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Microwave-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanostructured photoanodes for advanced dye-sensitized solar cells

AU - Haider Gilani, Syed Ezaz

AU - Younas, Muhammad

AU - Nazar, Rabia

AU - Rasheed, Muhammad Hamza

AU - Mehmood, Umer

PY - 2025/12/1

Y1 - 2025/12/1

N2 - A rapid, eco-friendly microwave-assisted synthesis was developed for Zn-based nanostructured photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), ensuring sustainability and scalability. This green approach eliminated hazardous solvents and energy-intensive steps while achieving precise morphological control for enhanced dye adsorption, charge transport, and stability. SEM and XRD characterizations confirmed well-defined ZnO nanostructures with favorable optical and electronic properties. The ZnO-based DSSCs achieved a power conversion efficiency of 4.78%, comparable to TiO2-based counterparts (4.90%), with superior operational stability. This study presents a scalable, sustainable route for high-performance ZnO-based DSSCs, advancing next-generation photovoltaic technologies.

AB - A rapid, eco-friendly microwave-assisted synthesis was developed for Zn-based nanostructured photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), ensuring sustainability and scalability. This green approach eliminated hazardous solvents and energy-intensive steps while achieving precise morphological control for enhanced dye adsorption, charge transport, and stability. SEM and XRD characterizations confirmed well-defined ZnO nanostructures with favorable optical and electronic properties. The ZnO-based DSSCs achieved a power conversion efficiency of 4.78%, comparable to TiO2-based counterparts (4.90%), with superior operational stability. This study presents a scalable, sustainable route for high-performance ZnO-based DSSCs, advancing next-generation photovoltaic technologies.

KW - DSSCs

KW - Microwave-assisted synthesis

KW - Nanoparticles

KW - Solar energy materials

KW - Thin films

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011394061

U2 - 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139146

DO - 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139146

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105011394061

SN - 0167-577X

VL - 400

JO - Materials Letters

JF - Materials Letters

M1 - 139146

ER -

Microwave-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanostructured photoanodes for advanced dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this