Fabrication of Poly(2-ethylaniline)-nanocomposite–SiO2 as a Photoanode Co-activator in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have gained popularity as a potential substitute for traditional silicon-based photovoltaics owing to their low cost, ease of development, and excellent efficiency under conditions of low light. The present investigation focuses on fabricating a novel poly(2-ethylaniline)-nanocomposite–SiO₂ (PEAN/SiO₂) as an advanced material for next-generation DSSCs. PEAN/SiO₂ was synthesized by the Emulsion polymerization method, achieving a yield of 90.24%, ensuring uniform dispersion of SiO₂ nanoparticles within the polymer matrix. The structural, thermal and morphological properties of PEAN/SiO₂ were evaluated using UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX), revealing the thermally stable, amorphous and emeraldine salt structure of PEAN/SiO₂. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies demonstrated improved charge transfer, contributing to better solar cell performance. In this study, the material properties were assessed for their potential as co-activating agents in DSSCs. The results showed an improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE). The PCE of the unmodified DSSC was 0.2%, which increased to 0.4% with co-activation. Notably, the PEAN/SiO₂ composite yielded the highest efficiency improvement, highlighting its potential to enhance charge transport and light absorption. These findings suggest that co-activation strategies using PEAN-based materials could be further explored and can serve as an effective approach to improving DSSC performance, paving the way for more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solar energy devices.