Preparation of TiO₂/ZrO₂ Composite as Photoanode of Ruthenium-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract Photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is an inorganic semiconductor layer with a nanoporous structure that has function as charge carrier transport and dye storage. Oxide material such titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) widely used photoanode because its wide band gap (3.2 eV) high active surface area (80 m /g), but TiO low electron diffusion recombination (electron-hole pair pairing). To improve the reduce recombination, was modified zirconia (ZrO ). The synthesis process carried out using sol-gel method variations ZrO concentrations at 5 mol%, 10 15 mol%. Composite /ZrO then applied DSSC. XRF results show in all , composites been formed. Based on UV-Vis spectroscopy, it shown energy decreased increasing concentration. current density-voltage measurement done to investigate effect addition light irradiation power intensity 100 mW/cm . There photocurrent from 1.63 mA/cm DSSC 2.79 mol% photoanode. highest efficiency obtained 1.15%. It found presence composite increased reduced