A Study on Cu Thin-Film Electroplated TiO<sub>2</sub> Photoanodes for Applications in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Improving the performance of TiO<sub>2</sub> photoanodes via the inclusion of metal particles on the electrode surface could provide significant advantages for the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We studied a TiO<sub>2</sub>/Cu film electrode prepared by el...
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2024-12-01
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| author | M. D. P. A. Shakya K. M. D. C. Jayathilaka W. T. R. S. Fernando W. T. M. A. P. K. Wanninayake L. S. R. Kumara O. Seo J. Tang O. Sakata W. P. Siripala R. P. Wijesundera |
| author_facet | M. D. P. A. Shakya K. M. D. C. Jayathilaka W. T. R. S. Fernando W. T. M. A. P. K. Wanninayake L. S. R. Kumara O. Seo J. Tang O. Sakata W. P. Siripala R. P. Wijesundera |
| author_sort | M. D. P. A. Shakya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Improving the performance of TiO<sub>2</sub> photoanodes via the inclusion of metal particles on the electrode surface could provide significant advantages for the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We studied a TiO<sub>2</sub>/Cu film electrode prepared by electrodepositing Cu particles on a TiO<sub>2</sub> film on an indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) substrate. Cu particles were electrodeposited on a TiO<sub>2</sub> electrode at −700 mV vs. a Ag/AgCl electrode in an acetate bath, with the pH adjusted between 6.3 and 7.7 in 0.2 increments to optimize the deposition conditions. TiO<sub>2</sub>/Cu thin-film electrodes were tested as a photo anode in a natural DSSC consisting of a carbon counter electrode, <i>Vitis vinifera</i> dye, and a KI/I<sub>2</sub>-based electrolyte. Film characterization was performed using hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and photocurrent density–voltage (J–V) measurements. DSSCs with Cu particles containing TiO<sub>2</sub> electrodes prepared using an acetate bath of pH 7.3 resulted in a 370% improvement in efficiency compared to the DSSCs without Cu particles. Thus, this study revealed that incorporating Cu particles into the surface of the TiO<sub>2</sub> electrode enhances the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-53bf8b41a0d348bf96bde6d51efc1be0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4352 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj-art-53bf8b41a0d348bf96bde6d51efc1be02025-01-24T13:28:03ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522024-12-011512810.3390/cryst15010028A Study on Cu Thin-Film Electroplated TiO<sub>2</sub> Photoanodes for Applications in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar CellsM. D. P. A. Shakya0K. M. D. C. Jayathilaka1W. T. R. S. Fernando2W. T. M. A. P. K. Wanninayake3L. S. R. Kumara4O. Seo5J. Tang6O. Sakata7W. P. Siripala8R. P. Wijesundera9Department of Physics and Electronics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri LankaDepartment of Physics and Electronics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri LankaDepartment of Physics and Electronics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri LankaDepartment of Physics and Electronics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri LankaJapan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun 679-5198, Hyogo, JapanJapan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun 679-5198, Hyogo, JapanJapan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun 679-5198, Hyogo, JapanJapan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun 679-5198, Hyogo, JapanDepartment of Physics and Electronics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri LankaDepartment of Physics and Electronics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri LankaImproving the performance of TiO<sub>2</sub> photoanodes via the inclusion of metal particles on the electrode surface could provide significant advantages for the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We studied a TiO<sub>2</sub>/Cu film electrode prepared by electrodepositing Cu particles on a TiO<sub>2</sub> film on an indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) substrate. Cu particles were electrodeposited on a TiO<sub>2</sub> electrode at −700 mV vs. a Ag/AgCl electrode in an acetate bath, with the pH adjusted between 6.3 and 7.7 in 0.2 increments to optimize the deposition conditions. TiO<sub>2</sub>/Cu thin-film electrodes were tested as a photo anode in a natural DSSC consisting of a carbon counter electrode, <i>Vitis vinifera</i> dye, and a KI/I<sub>2</sub>-based electrolyte. Film characterization was performed using hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and photocurrent density–voltage (J–V) measurements. DSSCs with Cu particles containing TiO<sub>2</sub> electrodes prepared using an acetate bath of pH 7.3 resulted in a 370% improvement in efficiency compared to the DSSCs without Cu particles. Thus, this study revealed that incorporating Cu particles into the surface of the TiO<sub>2</sub> electrode enhances the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/1/28copperelectrodepositionphotovoltaictitanium dioxide |
| spellingShingle | M. D. P. A. Shakya K. M. D. C. Jayathilaka W. T. R. S. Fernando W. T. M. A. P. K. Wanninayake L. S. R. Kumara O. Seo J. Tang O. Sakata W. P. Siripala R. P. Wijesundera A Study on Cu Thin-Film Electroplated TiO<sub>2</sub> Photoanodes for Applications in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Crystals copper electrodeposition photovoltaic titanium dioxide |
| title | A Study on Cu Thin-Film Electroplated TiO<sub>2</sub> Photoanodes for Applications in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_full | A Study on Cu Thin-Film Electroplated TiO<sub>2</sub> Photoanodes for Applications in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_fullStr | A Study on Cu Thin-Film Electroplated TiO<sub>2</sub> Photoanodes for Applications in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Study on Cu Thin-Film Electroplated TiO<sub>2</sub> Photoanodes for Applications in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_short | A Study on Cu Thin-Film Electroplated TiO<sub>2</sub> Photoanodes for Applications in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_sort | study on cu thin film electroplated tio sub 2 sub photoanodes for applications in natural dye sensitized solar cells |
| topic | copper electrodeposition photovoltaic titanium dioxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/1/28 |
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