Fabrication of TiO₂-Ag composites for working electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sebelas Maret University, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia
² Centre of Excellence for Electrical Energy Storage Technology, Sebelas Maret University, Jl. Slamet Riyadi no. 435 Surakarta 57146, Central Java, Indonesia
³ Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Sebelas Maret University, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia
⁴ UMG Idealab, Jakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: tikaparamitha@staff.uns.ac.id

Abstract

A solar cell is a device that can convert solar energy into electrical energy. The third generation of solar cells is Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC). Typically, DSSC consists of a working electrode (semiconductive metal oxide), a photosensitizer, an electrolyte, and a counter electrode (platinum or carbon electrode). Among the components, a working electrode is one of the crucial components to control the electrochemical performance. This study examines variations in Ag composition in TiO₂-Ag composites against efficiency using two materials and fabrication methods. First, using the solid-state method, TiO₂-Ag composites were fabricated from Ag paste and TiO₂ paste. The highest efficiency results were achieved at TiO₂ N-RT + Ag 1%. The efficiency increased from 1.05% to 1.51% compared to TiO₂ without Ag doping. Second, using the solvothermal method, TiO₂-Ag composites were fabricated from AgNO₃ and TiO₂ particles. The highest efficiency results were obtained at TiO₂ NP + Ag 0.75%. The efficiency increased from 0.82% to 1.07% compared to TiO₂ without Ag doping. Furthermore, the material with the best efficiency was characterized using FTIR, XRD, and SEM to identify the material’s functional groups, phases, and morphology, respectively.