Enhanced DSSCs performance of TiO2 nanostructure by surface passivation layers

Rutile titanium oxide (TiO2) synthesized in copper containers, was spin-coated with different surface passivation layers such as magnesium oxide (MgO), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), zirconium oxide (TiO2), and tin oxide (SnO2). The deposition of these passivation layers on TiO2 confirmed with the help of XRD and EDX analysis, leads to changes in surface morphology induced by the passivation layers demonstrated by FE-SEM imaging. The highest photoconversion efficiency obtained for TiO2 electrode with MgO passivation layer (6.05%), respective incident photon conversion efficiency was 52%. After introduction of passivation layers on the TiO2 nanostructure, electron lifetime increased from 0.48 ms to 0.65 ms and charge transfer resistance decreased from 36.9 Omega cm (pristine TiO2 electrode) to 20.16 Omega cm (MgO passivation layer).