TiO2/AgO composites by one step photo reduction technique as electron transport layers (ETL) for dye-sensitized solar cells

Dye-sensitized solar cell's electron transport layer is responsible for transporting photo-generated electrons to the outer circuit. Utilizing localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR), light absorption could be enhanced to a greater degree, which can drive dye molecules to excited state more effectively than far-field light. In this work, TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by solvothermal method, and Ag nanoparticles were decorated over TiO2 surface through photodeposition method. XRD data of the TiO2 sample exhibits anatase phase and in the Ag nanoparticle decorated TiO2 sample, peaks corresponding to (111) planes of Ag was observed. UV–Vis absorption analysis of the TiO2 and Ag decorated TiO2 samples showed absorption in the UV region for the TiO2, and the SPR effect was detected for the Ag deposited TiO2 samples. Ag nanoparticles decorated over TiO2 was observed to be spherical in shape through the images from transmission electron microscope. Presence of both Ag and AgO in the prepared sample was revealed through the data from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The prepared material was used as photoanodes in the construction of the DSSCs, and their performance was evaluated.