A simple sonochemical approach for synthesis of selenium nanostructures and investigation of its light harvesting application

Mokhtar Panahi-Kalamuei; Mehdi Mousavi-Kamazani; Masoud Salavati-Niasari; S Mostafa Hosseinpour-Mashkani

doi:10.1016/j.ultsonch.2014.09.006

A simple sonochemical approach for synthesis of selenium nanostructures and investigation of its light harvesting application

Ultrason Sonochem. 2015 Mar:23:246-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2014.09.006. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

Authors

Mokhtar Panahi-Kalamuei¹, Mehdi Mousavi-Kamazani², Masoud Salavati-Niasari³, S Mostafa Hosseinpour-Mashkani⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Nano Science and Nano Technology, University of Kashan, P. O. Box 87317-51167, Kashan, Iran.
² Young Researchers and Elites Club, Kashan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kashan, Iran.
³ Institute of Nano Science and Nano Technology, University of Kashan, P. O. Box 87317-51167, Kashan, Iran. Electronic address: salavati@kashanu.ac.ir.
⁴ Young Researchers and Elites Club, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran.

PMID: 25248917
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2014.09.006

Abstract

Selenium (Se) nanostructures were synthesized by a sonochemical method using SeCl₄ as a new precursor for Se nanostructures. Moreover, hydrazine, potassium borohydride, and thioglycolic acid were used as reducing reagents in aqueous solution. Ultrasonic power, irradiation time, reducing agent, solvent, HCl, NaOH, and the surfactant were changed in order to investigate the effect of preparation parameters on the morphology and particle size of selenium. The obtained Se with different morphologies and sizes was characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, and DRS. The selenium nanostructures exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, to examine the solar cell application of as-synthesized selenium nanostructure, FTO/TiO₂/Se/Pt-FTO and FTO/Se/CdS/Pt-FTO structures were created by deposited selenium film on top of the TiO₂ layer and FTO glass prepared by Doctor's blade method, respectively.

Keywords: Light harvesting; Nanostructures; Selenium; Sonochemical method.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't