Synthesis, characterization, and application of transition metals (Ni, Zr, and Fe) doped TiO2 photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

In this paper, we present the synthesis of different metal-doped TiO2 compounds (pure TiO2, Fe doped TiO2 (FexTi1-xO2), Ni doped TiO2 (NixTi1-xO2), Zr doped TiO2 (ZrxTi1-xO2)) thin films in order to improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Undoped TiO2 particles and Ni, Fe and Zr transition metals doped TiO2 particles were synthesized by the sol-gel method for the utilization of the anodic part of the DSSC. The cathode of the DSSC was a carbon electrode. Fluorine Doped Tin Oxide (FTO) coated electrodes on the glass surfaces and electrolyte solution containing I/I2 was obtained a dye-sensitized solar cell. Pure TiO2 and Ni, Fe and Zr doped TiO2 nanopowders were characterized by DLS, XRD, SEM/EDX, and UV–Vis Spectroscopy. The thin films have been deposited on the glass substrate by the doctor blade method. The effect of synthesized nano-materials on the cell performance of DSSC was investigated by J-V curves. J-V characterization of solar cell module shown that the highest power conversion efficiency was the solar cell module that fabricated with 10% of Zr doped TiO2 with the short circuit current (Jsc) and the efficiency was at 0.13 mA cm−2 and 0.020%, respectively. However, yields on the cell performance of other nanomaterials were obtained as 0.019%, 0.017% and 0.015% for pure TiO2, Fe doped TiO2, and Ni doped TiO2, respectively.