Effect of TiO2, Nb2O5, and RGO in a ternary nanocomposite for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The ternary nanocomposite material, incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO₂), niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅), and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), was successfully synthesized via the hydrothermal method. This material is referred to as TNR ternary nanocomposite. This material was intended to be utilized as a photoanodic material with N719 dye as a sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to enhance their performance. The inclusion of RGO into TiO₂ and Nb₂O₅ significantly enhances the charge transfer properties, which are capable of reducing recombination and overall performance of the TNR ternary nanocomposite. Consequently, this may improve charge transfer rates and efficiency within the device. The screen-printing method was employed to coat the photoanode, chosen for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. The properties and structure of the TNR ternary nanocomposite were characterized using advanced techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical analysis. The effectiveness of the TNR ternary nanocomposite was evaluated through analyses of its I–V characteristics and electrochemical impedance (EIS), revealing a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.20%. Additionally, the filling factor (FF), short-circuit current density (Jsc), and open-circuit potential (Voc) were determined to be 0.492, 27.90 mA cm⁻², and 814.35 mV, respectively. Notably, the efficiency hierarchy of the TNR ternary nanocomposite exceeded that of TiO₂ by 56.69%. Therefore, TNR ternary nanocomposite is a promising candidate for advancing the field of DSSCs.