Tuning of Structural and Magnetic Properties of SrSnO3 Nanorods in Fabrication of Blocking Layers for Enhanced Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Perovskite-based SrSnO3 nanostructures doped with indium are prepared via a facile chemical precipitation method. Prepared nanostructures are used to assemble the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and their photovoltaic response and electrochemical impedance spectra are measured. The synthesized samples are subjected to structural, morphological, optical, and magnetic properties. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirms the single-phase orthorhombic (Pbnm) perovskite structure. Local structural and phonon mode variations are examined by Raman spectra. Electron micrographs disclose the nanorods. The elements (Sr, Sn, O, and In) and the existence of oxygen vacancies are identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Surface area analysis demonstrates the higher surface area (11.8 m2/g) for SrSnO3 nanostructures. Optical absorption spectra confirm the good optical behavior in the ultraviolet region. The multicolor emission affirms the presence of defects/vacancies present in the synthesized samples. The appearance of interesting ferromagnetic behavior in the prepared samples is due to the presence of F-center exchange interactions. Under the irradiation (1000 W/m2) of simulated sunlight, the DSSC fabricated by 3% In-doped SrSnO3 exhibits the highest η of 5.68%. Hence, the blocking layers prepared with pure and indium-doped samples could be the potential candidates for DSSC applications.