One-step synthesis of titanate microstructures as efficient light scatteringlayer for dye-sensitized solar cells

Non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels are still the first choice in energy resources.However, in order to maintain energy security and avoid the environmental problems caused bythese energies, such as the greenhouse effect and air pollution, the focus should be shifted torenewable energy sources. These renewable energies have many advantages, such as harmlessnessto the environment, abundant sources, and the ability to renew them because they are unlimited[۱,۲]. Dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs), a third generation photovoltaic technology, are one of themost promising photovoltaic technologies for generating renewable, clean, and affordable energy.They are generally made from cheap and non-toxic components [۳]. As a crucial component ofDSSC, the photoanode must perform several functions, such as a large BET surface area for dyeadsorption, a suitable band gap for electron transport, and a suitable size for light scattering effect[۴]. Researchers have claimed that the energy conversion efficiency (PCE) is closely related to theintrinsic properties of the photoanode materials, as the photoanode plays a key role in DSSCs [۵].Herein, we report a simple, environmentally friendly hydrothermal process for large-scalefabrication of sodium titanate architectures in a NaOH solution medium to be used as a lightscattering layer (LSL) in DSSCs. we use titanate as an oxide semiconductor in DSSCs due to itsexcellent optical and electronic properties (as a wide bandgap semiconductor) as well as its longtermstability, low cost, and nontoxicity. Titanate is used as LSL in the photoanode because LSLis important to prevent or reduce light loss during the DSSC process, which can lead to a decreasein power conversion efficiency (PCE). The more light captured on the sensitized photoanode, themore dye molecules are excited and the more voltage and current are generated, leading to anincrease in the PCE of the DSSC device. Thus, the addition of LSL leads to a decrease in therecombination effect and an increase in the light scattering effect to improve the DSSCperformance

Keywords:

renewable energy , solar cell , DSSCs , light scattering layer , titanate