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

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 of the 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 x 10(14) ions-cm(-2) and 4 x 10(14) 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 x 10(14) 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 x 10(14) ions-cm(-2) and 4 x 10(14) ions-cm(-2) are employed as photoanode in the present work and maximum 3.26% efficiency is achieved.

Automated summary

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a better alternative to silicon-based solar cells due to their flexibility, lightweight, economy, and environmental friendliness. By irradiating TiO2 films with iron ions, the efficiency of DSSCs can be improved. The study shows that the maximum reduction in TiO2 film occurs when irradiated with iron ions at a fluency rate of 4 x 10(14) ions-cm(-2), as evidenced by X-ray diffraction and UV-visible spectroscopy.