Structural and Optical Properties of Nanocrystalline TiO₂ with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Its Photovoltaic Studies Using Ru(II) Sensitizers

Abstract

In this study, the in situ sol–gel method has been deployed to prepare the titanium dioxide/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO 2 /MWCNTs) nanocomposite (NCs) powders with varying content of MWCNTs (0.01–1.0 wt %), to construct the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). First, binder-free NCs were deposited on a transparent-conducting F:SnO 2 (FTO) glass substrate by a doctor-blade technique and then anchored with Ru(II)-based dyes to either N719 or ruthenium phthalocyanine (RuPc). The structural and optical properties and interconnectivity of the materials within the composite are investigated thoroughly by various spectral techniques (XRD, XPS, Raman, FT-IR, and UV–vis), electron microscopy (HRTEM), and BET analysis. The experimental results suggest that the ratio of MWCNTs and TiO 2 in NCs, morphology, and their interconnectivity influenced their structural, optical, and photovoltaic properties significantly. Finally, the photovoltaic performances of the assembled DSSCs with different content of MWCNTs to TiO 2 films anchored with two different dyes were tested under one sun irradiation (100 mW/cm 2 ). The measured current–voltage ( IV ) curve and incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectra of TiO 2 /0.1 wt % MWCNTs (T@0.1 C) for N719 dye show three times more power conversion efficiency (η = 6.21%) which is opposed to an efficiency (η = 2.07%) of T@0.1 C for RuPc dye under the same operating conditions.

Green AgNPs Decorated ZnO Nanocomposites for Dye Degradation And Antimicrobial Applications

“…The anti-microbial activity result is phographically represented in Figure 7,respectively. Meanwhile, the remarkable, resistance for antibiotic is observed due to poor antibiotic penetration and adaptive bacterial response[33][34]. This increases the need of finding new antibiotic which has been fulfilled by making composite of different nanoparticle composite with various concentrations.…”

Synthesis of Ni2+ ion doped ZnO–MWCNTs nanocomposites using an in situ sol–gel method: an ultra sensitive non-enzymatic uric acid sensing electrode material

“…49 While, in case of NZC NCs the characteristics XRD reections of the ZnO NPs are retained in NCs at their respective 2q values; without characteristics reections corresponds to MWCNTs due to their less content or lower concentration of MWCNTs in the NCs and which could not be traced out by the XRD. 44 In addition the close assessment of XRD patterns indicates that the intensity of XRD reections are decreases signicantly aer forming NCs with MWCNTs upto NZC 0.1 NCs to that of undoped ZnO NPs. In case of 5 NZ the intensity of XRD reections drastically reduced which is reported earlier 49,50 and if consider NZC NCs only, intensity of XRD pattern reections is enhanced signicantly from NZC 0.01 to NZC 0.05 NCs and…”

“…51 The frequency region at 3000-3500 cm À1 corresponds due to the -OH functional moieties present in 5 NZ and NZC NCs. 44,52 In 5 NZ , sharp stretching bands observed at 830 cm À1 , 51 1066 cm À1 and 1378 cm À1 corresponding to the Zn-O-Ni bonding, Ni 2+ ions occupies Zn 2+ sites of host lattice of ZnO NPs and presence of NO 3 . 53,54 The shi of stretching vibration frequencies of 5 NZ and NZC NCs as compare to undoped ZnO NPs with supporting of respective sharp stretching bands indicates the substitution of Ni 2+ ions in Zn 2+ sites of host lattice of ZnO NPs.…”

“…41-1487). 44,45 . 46,47 Absence of additional reections conrm the absence of impurities Zn (OH) 2 or NiO like, which indicates the singlephase nature of the synthesized products and possible substitution of Ni 2+ ions into the ZnO NPs host lattice.…”

Structural Refinement and Optoelectronic Properties of (MoxTi1‐2xO2‐δ)1‐y(RGO)y Nanocomposites and Their Photovoltaic Studies with Natural Pigments as Sensitizers

“…Also, in comparison to bare TiO 2 or binary composites (TiO 2 /RGO and TiO 2 /CNTs), the optoelectronic and photovoltaic studies of (Mo x Ti 1‐2x O 2‐δ ) 1‐y (RGO) y is still obscure. Along with preferable dopant, the carbon nanostructures (CNTs or RGOs) are also used as supportive materials due to having ability to boost the properties of host materials for energy harvesting studies . Recently, our research group studied the binary TiO 2 /RGO NCs based DSSCs and reported the highest power conversion efficiencies of η=5.98% and η=4.76% for optimized TiO 2 /RGO (0.75 wt.%) composites sensitized with N719 and N3 dyes, respectively .…”