Abstract:

Nddoped ZnO was prepared by a simple solution method. Xray diffraction analysis (XRD) demonstrates that Nd atoms have been successfully incorporated into the lattice of ZnO. UVVisible absorption spectra (UVVis) show that Nd doping has led to a red shift of the absorption edge of ZnO to
the visiblelightregion, which shows Nd doping has narrowed the band gap of ZnO. Nd doping obviously improves the shortcircuit photocurrent density and overall light conversion efficiency of dyesensitized solar cell based on ZnO photoanode. When doping concentrations of Nd were 0.5%,10%, and 1.5% respectively, shortcircuit photocurrent densities  were 9.51,13.01,1079 mA/cm2 respectively,  and overall light conversion efficiencies  were 2.28%,2.84%, and 2.48% respectively.

Key words: solar cell, zinc oxide, Nd doping； bandgap narrowing, photovolatic performance