Enhanced Conversion Efficiency in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Hydrothermally Synthesized TiO₂−MWCNT Nanocomposites

Abstract

A 50% enhancement in the conversion efficiency (4.9−7.37%) is realized in dye-sensitized solar cells using hydrothermally synthesized TiO2−multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites as compared to hydrothermally synthesized TiO2 without MWCNT and Degussa P25. Several characterizations have been employed to reveal the nature of the modification imparted to the MWCNTs under hydrothermal processing conditions and the resulting TiO2−MWCNT conjugation through −COOH groups. Efficient charge transfer in the nanocomposite and efficient electron transport by MWCNT (significantly higher incident-photon-to-current conversion efficiency) are suggested to be the possible reasons for the enhancement.