Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Based on TiO2:ZnO Nanocomposites

TiO2 nanoparticles and TiO2:ZnO nanocomposites were prepared by sol-gel method and the structural properties were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Further, Raman measurement confirms the presence of TiO2 and ZnO phases in composite systems. Using phonon confinement model in Raman techniques, the particle sizes were calculated and compared with TEM and XRD results. The increase in charge transfer from dye molecules to the nanocomposites with increasing ZnO content were studied using UV-Vis absorption and photoemission spectroscopy. Dye-sensitized solar cell based on nanocomposite electrode shows enhancement in solar to power conversion efficiency (eta) of 4% than TiO2 nanoparticles. Here, ZnO permits the formation of energy barrier at electrolyte/electrode interface leading to reduction in recombination rate, increasing the cell performance.