Low-temperature chemical synthesis of rutile and anatase mixed phase TiO2 nanostructures for DSSCs photoanodes

Wet chemical deposition method by using copper salt doping approach is used to synthesize mixed phase (rutile and anatase) titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanostructures. Pristine and Cu-doped TiO2 photo anodes are analyzed for their physical properties. The results showed a significant influence of Cu-salt concentration in tuning the TiO2 properties in terms of structural, morphological, porosity, optical and electrochemical properties. The Cu-free TiO2 photoanode is rutile in structure whereas when Cu-doping level is increased, beyond 0.003 M, is transformed to mixed rutile-anatase structure. Presence of copper (Cu) in different weight percentages was confirmed from the surface energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Effect of.Cu-doping on the power conversion efficiency of Ti02-based dye-sensitized solar cells is investigated. At 0.005 M Cu-doping level, both power conversion and incident-photon-to-current-conversion efficiencies of TiO2 electrode are optimal i.e. 3.32% and 46% respectively; consistent to electron life time measurement where with increase in Cu-doping level from 0.001 to 0.005 M an electron life time of TiO2 photoanode is increased from 0.1893 ms to 0.5967 ms. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.