Effect of Fe ions beam on the structural, optical, photovoltaic properties of TiO2 based dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Solar energy can be utilized effectively for the production of electrical energy through dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Comparatively, these dye-sensitized solar cells are better than silicon-based solar cell because of their flexibility, lightweight, economical, environment-friendly and their simple route ofthe manufacturing process. Photoanode is the backbone of dye-sensitized solarcells and for obtaining better efficiency, the TiO2 films are irradiated with 600 KeV Fe ions at 2 × 1014 ions-cm−2 and 4 × 1014 ions-cm−2 fluency rates, respectively. X-ray diffraction results show that TiO2 film has anatase crystalline phases. Bandgap values, obtained through UV–visible spectroscopy; are being indicated a maximum reduction in TiO2 film using Fe ions irradiation at 4 × 1014 ions-cm−2. The electron-hole pairs recombination process are evaluated by PL specta and electrochemical impedence spectroscopy (EIS). The absorption spectrum shows a redshift after this ions irradiation. By J-V curve, corresponding efficiencies of all samples are calculated. For the fabrication of DSSCs based on dye (N719), pure TiO2 & TiO2 film exposed with 600 KeV Feions with a fluency rate of 2 × 1014 ions-cm−2 and 4 × 1014 ions-cm−2 are employed as photoanode in the present work and maximum 3.26% efficiency is achieved.