Tailoring Ordered Mesoporous Titania Films via Introducing Germanium Nanocrystals for Enhanced Electron Transfer Photoanodes for Photovoltaic Applications

Based on a diblock-copolymer templated sol–gel synthesis, germanium nanocrystals (GeNCs) are introduced to tailor mesoporous titania (TiO2) films for obtaining more efficient anodes photovoltaic applications. After thermal annealing in air, the hybrid with different GeNC content investigated and compared undergoing an argon atmosphere annealing. The surface inner morphologies of TiO2/GeOx nanocomposite probed via scanning electron microscopy grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering. crystal phase, chemical composition, optical properties examined transmission microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Special focus is set air-annealed since they hold greater promise photovoltaics. Specifically, charge–carrier dynamics these studied, it found that, pristine TiO2 photoanodes, addition enhances transfer, yielding increase short-circuit photocurrent density exemplary perovskite solar cells thus, enhanced device efficiency as well significantly reduced hysteresis.