Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticle using sol–gel route and testing its photovoltaic performance in dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract

In the present work, sol–gel method is used to synthesize TiO₂ nanoparticle. The characterization of the prepared TiO₂ powder is done using Powder X-ray diffraction (powder XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis). The XRD pattern reveals formation of anatase phase TiO₂. The SEM images reveal agglomeration of nanoparticles. The absorbance spectrum of TiO₂ nanoparticles was observed with excitonic peaks at 327 nm and the band gap came out to be ~3.2 eV. This prepared TiO₂ was tested for photovoltaic performance by using it in the Dye sensitized solar cell (FTO/TiO₂/N719/KI-I₂/Pt). Conversion of solar light energy to electricity was successfully done using this TiO₂. The fabricated cell showed an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of 587 mV and short-circuit current density (J_SC) of 5.06 mA/cm². Maximum power (P_max) generated was 1.912 mW/cm² with a fill factor (FF) of 0.644 and a conversion efficiency of 1.91%.