Enhancement of photocurrent efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells using nanometer-sized y-incorporated TiO₂ materials

This study examines the photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) when nanometer-sized Y (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mol %)-incorporated TiO₂ prepared using a solvothermal method is utilized as the working electrode material. The photoelectric properties of the Y-TiO₂ used in DSSCs were studied by frequency-resolved modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy. The recombination was much slower in the Y-TiO₂-based DSSCs than in the pure TiO₂-assembled DSSC. Compared to that using pure TiO₂, the energy conversion efficiency was enhanced considerably by the application of Y-TiO₂ in the DSSCs to approximately 6.08% for 0.5 mol % Y-TiO₂.