Enhancing the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Using Gold Doped TiO2 Nanorods

To improve the electron lifetime, light-harvesting and electron collection efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) simultaneously, Au doped TiO2 nanorods are prepared by hydrothermal method. The 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% concentrations of Au have used in this research. These nanorods are used as photoanodes in DSSCs. XRD results have shown that all the photoanodes consist of anatase phase of TiO2. Diameter of nanorods is increased by increasing the doping concentration of Au, according to SEM. From I-V measurement, it has been found that the efficiency of DSSCs is increased by increasing the doping concentration of Au. The highest efficiency of cell has achieved at the doping concentration of 1.5% of Au which is 4.71%. After 1.5% doping, the solar cell efficiency has been decreased. Moreover, all Au doped TiO2 photoanodes have shown good light-harvesting efficiency due to increase the diameter of photoanode and slower charge recombination rate. As a consequence, the short-circuit current density and open-circuit photovoltage are both enhanced significantly, which improved the power conversion efficiency from 0.80 to 4.71% (490%). The present work will provide a way to fabricate cost effective and highly efficient DSSCs for industrial purpose.