An Investigation of Chemically Synthesized Barium Stannate (BaSnO3) Thin Films Sensitized with Local Colors for Their Potential Photovoltaic Utilizations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjorae.2026.0302.94Keywords:
Barium Stannate, Natural Dyes, Chemical Bath Deposition, Potential Applications, Solar Energy DevicesAbstract
Three different natural dyes (Henna, Beetroot, and Purging nut) were extracted to sensitize ternary metal oxide thin film of BaSnO3 deposited on glass substrate via electroless deposition at room temperature. Chemical baths used contained Barium Tetraoxosulphate (vi); Tin (11) Chloride Dehydrate, SnCl2.2H20; Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH; distilled water and calibrated per bath of organic dyes. Each deposit was set at a temperature of 90 0C for 1 h annealed at 400 0C for 1 h. The sensitized and unsensitized nano thin films remained investigated for structural, morphological, optical properties, elemental composition and electronic (chemical) structure besides existence of functional groups via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), UV-VIS spectrophotometer, Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluoroscopy (EDXRF) and photoluminescence Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation Spectroscopy (FTIR). Polycrystalline thin films stood proved for porosity and extreme surface area for colorant loading for photosensitization in colorant sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For both films, 1.61 eV to 1.76 eV band gaps were achieved. Unsensitized film has band gap of 1.61 eV while sensitized have greater values, hence, increased band gap and thereby violating the dye sensitization process result of Eg. Though the energy band gap of the dye-sensitized materials increased yet they remain low and this could be attributed to local state formation near the band edge. The FTIR results showed good photophysical, carboxylate and modification properties of the colorants for sunlight harvesting, anchoring and surface structure modification of films. The colorant influenced the optical characteristics of the films particularly, increasing energy band gap, Eg from an increase in absorption coefficient α, giving high absorbance A, low refractive index n, low extinction coefficient k, low reflectance R, inferring its potential applications in window coatings, solar energy devices for construction (of roofs in temperate regions), poultry houses, solar cells and DSSCs.
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