Study of N–Ag–Zn/TiO₂, N–Ag–Zr/TiO₂ with N719 and P3OT co-sensitization effect on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract: Nanocrystal N–Zn/TiO₂ and N–Zr/TiO₂ anode films were prepared using TiCl₄ as raw material and doping Zn and Zr on the N/TiO₂. Furthermore, Ag was loaded on the nanocrystal N–Zn/TiO₂ and N–Zr/TiO₂ anode films by photodeposition technology in which AgNO₃ solution was irradiated by UV light. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements were performed, which show Zn are doped into TiO₂ and Ag are loaded on N–Zn/TiO₂ anode film successfully. The cyclic voltammetry results show that the composite dye P3OT/N719 has a higher LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) and has a better performance of the DSSCs (dye-sensitized solar cells) based on N–Ag–Zr/TiO₂ anode film. In addition, when the DSSCs assembled with anode film, the photoelectric conversion efficiency was increased to 4.11 %. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]