Doping-induced modification of nanoporous TiO₂ structures and its influence on dye-sensitized solar cell performance

In this study, transparent TiO2 nanoporous structures were developed using the anodization method, and these structures were doped with metals (Ag+, Zn2(+), Fe3(+), Co2(+)) and rare earth elements (Ho3(+), La3(+), Er3(+), Yb3(+)). As the counter electrode, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), an environmentally and economically sustainable material, was used instead of conventional platinum. The dye-sensitive solar cells (DSSCs) sensitized with N719 dye were comprehensively evaluated using morphological and electrochemical characterization techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the formation of pore structures with an approximate diameter of 88 nm, while Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) data confirmed that no impurities were formed on the electrodes after doping. Current density-voltage (J-V) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analyses demonstrated that doping had multidimensional effects on the parameters determining the cell performance. It was observed that the dopants limited the performance by affecting properties such as charge transport behavior, surface morphology, and dye adsorption; however, some dopants led to positive outcomes in open-circuit voltage. The findings indicate that careful optimization of the type and amount of doping plays a critical role in achieving structural and electronic compatibility.

Journal

JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS

Year

2025

Volume

37

Issue

1

ISSN

0957-4522

eISSN

1573-482X

DOI

10.1007/s10854-025-16426-y

WoS UID

WOS:001648808100008