Abstract

• This research focuses on the green synthesis of ZnONPs using Banana Peel Extract (BPE) from Musa Balbisiana Banana. ZnONPs powders were synthesized with three different ratios of Banana Peel:distilled water ( 2:10, 4:10, 6:10) and Zn(NO3)2.6H2O. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized ZnONPs powders were characterized by XRD and SEM. The crystal structure of ZnONPS (2:10, 4:10, 6:10) were found to be hexagonal wurtzite structure and their crystallite sizes were 43.06 nm, 29.40 nm and 22.23 nm respectively which form irregular grains having sizes of 2.77 μm, 2.39 μm, and 2.22 μm. ZnONPs (6:10) was deposited onto the fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates by using spin coating technique. Chlorophyll and Anthocyanin dyes solutions were extracted from Spinach Leaves and Grape Peel to use as sensitizer. ZnONPs substrates were dipped into two different natural dyes solutions, and natural dyes based ZnONPs photoelectrodes were prepared. The ZnONPs substrate, the natural dyes solutions and natural dyes based ZnONPs photoelectrodes were characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The energy band gap of ZnONPs substrate was found to be 2.48 eV. The optical band gap values were obtained 2.76 eV and 2.77 eV for Chlorophyll and Anthocyanin dyes solutions. Moreover, the optical band gap values of Chlorophyll and Anthocyanin based ZnONPs photoelectrodes were observed 2.63 eV and 2.49 eV respectively. According to obtained results, it can be reported that the two different natural dyes based ZnONPs photoelectrodes were suitable to use in DSSCs.