Defect chemistry, self-modified Ti3+-doped TiO2 as a photoanode material for dye-sensitized solar cell

To meet the energy demand of modern society, we vote in renewable energy source particularly dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). In this regard, the efficiency of DSSCs was improved by self-doped Ti3+ on Titanium dioxide (TiO2) surface. The integration of Ti3+ resulted in formation of oxygen vacancy that leads to generation of free electron. The formation of oxygen vacancy and free electron are observed in X-ray photo spectroscopy and the Electron Spin Resonance spectra. Further, oxygen vacancies in TiO2 have helped in retards the photo-generated electron and hole pairs and fine-tuned the agglomerated particles into uniform particles. The presence of oxygen vacancies increases the local charge density of free electron, and this energy level of oxygen vacancy can serve as electron donor states. Markedly, the maximum photo-conversion efficiency of 6.5