Low-temperature chemical synthesis of rutile and anatase mixed phase TiO2 nanostructures for DSSCs photoanodes

Abstract Wet chemical deposition method by using copper salt doping approach is used to synthesize mixed phase (rutile and anatase) titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanostructures. Pristine and Cu-doped TiO 2 photoanodes are analyzed for their physical properties. The results showed a significant influence of Cu-salt concentration in tuning the TiO 2 properties in terms of structural, morphological, porosity, optical and electrochemical properties. The Cu-free TiO 2 photoanode is rutile in structure whereas when Cu-doping level is increased, beyond 0.003 M, is transformed to mixed rutile-anatase structure. Presence of copper (Cu) in different weight percentages was confirmed from the surface energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Effect of Cu-doping on the power conversion efficiency of TiO 2 -based dye-sensitized solar cells is investigated. At 0.005 M Cu-doping level, both power conversion and incident-photon-to-current-conversion efficiencies of TiO 2 electrode are optimal i.e. 3.32% and 46% respectively; consistent to electron life time measurement where with increase in Cu-doping level from 0.001 to 0.005 M an electron life time of TiO 2 photoanode is increased from 0.1893 ms to 0.5967 ms.