Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from Cucurbita maxima leaf extract; a platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells
Keywords:
Green synthesis, DSSCs, CuO, Cucurbita maxima, Natural dyeAbstract
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.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2024 Emma Panzi Mukhokosi, Stephen Tenywa, Nandipha L. Bothab, Shohreh Azizi, Mathapelo Pearl Seopela, Malik Maaza

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Similar Articles
- S. E. Shaibu, E. J. Inam, E. A. Moses, U. A. Ofon, O. K. Fatunla, C. O. Obadimu, N. D. Ibuotenang, N. O. Offiong, V. F. Ekpo, T. J. Adeoye, E. L. Udokang, D. P. Fapojuwo, Prospects of nanosorption and photocatalysis in remediation of oil spills , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 5, Issue 1, February 2023
- Abdulwasiu Abdurrahman, Saidu Muhammad Waziri, Olusegun Ayoola Ajayi, Fadimatu Nyako Dabai, Optimization of Potassium Carbonate-based DES as Catalyst in the Production of Biodiesel via Transesterification , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 5, Issue 1, February 2023
- M. Basim, N. Senu, A. Ahmadian, Z. B. Ibrahim, S. Salahshour, Solving fractional variable-order differential equations of the non-singular derivative using Jacobi operational matrix , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 5, Issue 2, May 2023
- Rafiu Adewale Busari, Ezekiel Omotoso, Lukman O. Animasahun, Saheed Adekunle Adewinbi, Emmanuel O. Adewumi, Comfort T. Famoroti, Bidini A. Taleatu, Adeniyi Y. Fasasi, Tuning the optical properties and some surface structure of Cd-O thin film electrodeposited by two-electrode: An effect of Cobalt incorporation , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 5, Issue 2, May 2023
- Saprizal Hadisaputra, Lalu Rudyat Telly Savalas, Corrosion Inhibition Properties of Lawsone Derivatives againts Mild Steel: A Theoretical Study , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 5, Issue 3, August 2023
- A. Sherin Fathima, I. Kartharinal Punithavthy, S. Johnson Jayakumar S, A. Rajeshwari, A. Sindhya, A. Muthuvel, Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of V2O5 Thin films at different Molarities by Spray pyrolysis method , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 4, Issue 4, November 2022
- David O. Adekunle, Esther O. Faboro, Labunmi Lajide, Identification and quantification of bioactive compounds indifferent extracts of morinda lucida benth (rubiaceae) root using GC–MS analysis , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 5, Issue 4, November 2023
- M. E. Khan, C. E. Elum, A. O. Ijeomah, P. J. Ameji, I. G. Osigbemhe, E. E. Etim, J. V. Anyam, A. Abel, C. T. Agber, Isolation, Characterization, Antimicrobial and Theoretical Investigation of Some Bioactive Compounds Obtained from the Bulbs of Calotropisprocera , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 5, Issue 3, August 2023
- Peter Chibuike Okoye, Samuel Ogochukwu Azi, Taoreed O. Owolabi, Perovskite tetragonality modeling for functional properties enhancement using Newtonian search based support vector regression computational method , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 4, Issue 1, February 2022
- Benson Ade Eniola Afere, On the fourth-order hybrid beta polynomial kernels in kernel density estimation , Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences: Volume 6, Issue 1, February 2024
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

