Efficiency enhancement in dye-sensitized solar cells through neodymium-doped graphene quantum dot-modified TiO₂ photoanodes

Abstract

This study explored the effects of Neodymium-doped graphene quantum dots (NdGQDs) on improving the performance efficiency of TiO₂ based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). By employing in-situ physical assisted mixing, DSSCs with optimized NdGQDs in TiO₂ photoanodes showed a power conversion efficiency of 8.76 %, a significant improvement compared to the 6.01 % efficiency of pristine TiO₂-based DSSCs under 100 mW cm⁻² illumination (AM 1.5). Notably, the short-circuit current density increased by 74 %. HRTEM analysis revealed that the NdGQDs have a size range of approximately 7–9 nm. UV–visible spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis revealed a positive shift in the Fermi level, promoting better electron transfer and increased photocurrent density at the expenses of the open circuit voltage. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterization of DSSCs incorporating NdGQD-modified photoanodes revealed a reduction in electron transfer resistance at the photoanode|dye|electrolyte interface, accompanied by an increase in recombination resistance within the device suppressing the electron recombination rate.