Analysis of nickel oxide as a counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells using OghmaNano software

Senin, Nur Afiqah Hani; Rummaja, Iskandar Dzukarnain; Idris, Muhammad Idzdihar; Napiah, Zul Atfyi Fauzan Mohammed; Ramlee, Radi Husin; Rashid, Marzaini; Bradley, Luke

doi:10.11591/ijpeds.v15.i2.pp1218-1226

Open access Journal SINTA 1

Analysis of nickel oxide as a counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells using OghmaNano software

International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems · Vol. 15 No. 2 (2024) · pp. 1218–1226

DOI: 10.11591/ijpeds.v15.i2.pp1218-1226
ISSN: 2722-256X, 2088-8694
Published: 2024-06-01
Publisher: Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science
Language: eng
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), a promising green technology, convert solar energy into electricity more cost-effectively than traditional solar cells. While platinum (Pt) is commonly used in DSSCs, its high cost and toxicity limit practical applications. Recent research aims to develop low-cost counter electrodes with high efficiency. Nickel oxide (NiO), a p-type semiconductor with a wide bandgap, good transmittance, and suitable work function, emerges as a potential alternative for counter electrode of DSSCs. In this work, DSSCs with NiO of thicknesses varying from 100 nm to 1000 nm were simulated to determine its influence on photovoltaic performance using OghmaNano software. The structure of simulated solar cells consists of NiO as counter electrode, zinc oxide (ZnO) as photoanode, N719 as dyes, electrolyte as charge carrier transport, and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as a contact layer. There are five data of NiO used as an active layer. From the simulation results, NiO-doped gold exhibits the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.95% at a thickness of 700 nm, while pure NiO shows the lowest PCE with 4.53% at a thickness of 600 nm. These results have demonstrated that NiO can replace Pt as a counter electrode for DSSCs and doping plays a vital role in increasing efficiency.

Keywords

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15 authors · 41 co-authorship links

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Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
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Co-author	Organisation	Joint articles
Aiman Zakwan Jidin	Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka	1
Mohd Syafiq Mispan	Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka	1
Hafez Sarkawi	Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka	1
Haslinah Mohd Nasir	Affiliation unknown	1
Syafeeza Ahmad Radzi	Affiliation unknown	1
Khairul Muzzammil Saipullah	Affiliation unknown	1
Wira Hidayat Mohd Saad	Affiliation unknown	1
Sook Hui Chong	Affiliation unknown	1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) http://ijpeds.iaescore.com/index.php/IJPEDS/oai, first harvested 8 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.

Original metadata (oai_dc)

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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Analysis of nickel oxide as a counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells using OghmaNano software</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Senin, Nur Afiqah Hani</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Rummaja, Iskandar Dzukarnain</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Idris, Muhammad Idzdihar</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Napiah, Zul Atfyi Fauzan Mohammed</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Ramlee, Radi Husin</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Rashid, Marzaini</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Bradley, Luke</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">counter electrode; doped nickel oxide; dye sensitized solar cells; thickness; zinc oxide</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), a promising green technology, convert solar energy into electricity more cost-effectively than traditional solar cells. While platinum (Pt) is commonly used in DSSCs, its high cost and toxicity limit practical applications. Recent research aims to develop low-cost counter electrodes with high efficiency. Nickel oxide (NiO), a p-type semiconductor with a wide bandgap, good transmittance, and suitable work function, emerges as a potential alternative for counter electrode of DSSCs. In this work, DSSCs with NiO of thicknesses varying from 100 nm to 1000 nm were simulated to determine its influence on photovoltaic performance using OghmaNano software. The structure of simulated solar cells consists of NiO as counter electrode, zinc oxide (ZnO) as photoanode, N719 as dyes, electrolyte as charge carrier transport, and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as a contact layer. There are five data of NiO used as an active layer. From the simulation results, NiO-doped gold exhibits the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.95% at a thickness of 700 nm, while pure NiO shows the lowest PCE with 4.53% at a thickness of 600 nm. These results have demonstrated that NiO can replace Pt as a counter electrode for DSSCs and doping plays a vital role in increasing efficiency.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science</dc:publisher>
	<dc:contributor xml:lang="en-US">Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia</dc:contributor>
	<dc:contributor xml:lang="en-US">Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka</dc:contributor>
	<dc:date>2024-06-01</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
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	<dc:identifier>https://ijpeds.iaescore.com/index.php/IJPEDS/article/view/23133</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.11591/ijpeds.v15.i2.pp1218-1226</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems (IJPEDS); Vol 15, No 2: June 2024; 1218-1226</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2722-256X</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2088-8694</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.11591/ijpeds.v15.i2</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://ijpeds.iaescore.com/index.php/IJPEDS/article/view/23133/14579</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2024 Nur Afiqah Hani Senin, Iskandar Dzukarnain Rummaja, M. Idzdihar Idris, Zul Atfyi Fauzan Mohammed Napiah, Radi Husin Ramlee, Marzaini Rashid, Luke Bradley</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
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