Ashraf A. Ali , Muawia Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud , Saud Hamdan Alshammari , Mehmet Sarikahya , Abdulaziz Mohammed Alshareef , Gaber Edris , Kawther A. Al-Dhlan
{"title":"TiO2/MoS2-rGO composite Photoanodes: A Path to improved electron transport and photovoltaic efficiency in Dye-Sensitized solar cells","authors":"Ashraf A. Ali , Muawia Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud , Saud Hamdan Alshammari , Mehmet Sarikahya , Abdulaziz Mohammed Alshareef , Gaber Edris , Kawther A. Al-Dhlan","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2025.113405","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improving the efficiency and viability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) depends largely on addressing the material limitations of key components. Titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) is widely regarded as the best-performing semiconductor for DSSC photoanodes, yet its binary composition imposes constraints that prevent DSSCs from achieving their full potential. In this study, we demonstrate that incorporating two-dimensional (2D) materials into TiO<sub>2</sub> in the form of a nanocomposite significantly enhances its performance. Specifically, we investigate the application of a TiO<sub>2</sub>/MoS<sub>2</sub>-rGO nanocomposite as a photoanode material in DSSCs. While this composite has previously shown promise as an electrode material for supercapacitors and batteries, we reveal its substantial potential for DSSCs, particularly in improving the charge transport properties of bare TiO<sub>2</sub> through the addition of MoS<sub>2</sub> nanosheets, and enhancing porosity by introducing rGO into its lattice. Our results show an impressive 41% increase in efficiency, from 6.6% for pure TiO<sub>2</sub>-based DSSCs to 9.3% for DSSCs incorporating the TiO<sub>2</sub>/MoS<sub>2</sub>-rGO photoanode. Comprehensive studies and analyses were conducted to explore various aspects of the material and device, establishing TiO<sub>2</sub>/MoS<sub>2</sub>-rGO as a promising alternative to bare TiO<sub>2</sub> in DSSCs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 113405"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Solar Energy","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X25001689","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Improving the efficiency and viability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) depends largely on addressing the material limitations of key components. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely regarded as the best-performing semiconductor for DSSC photoanodes, yet its binary composition imposes constraints that prevent DSSCs from achieving their full potential. In this study, we demonstrate that incorporating two-dimensional (2D) materials into TiO2 in the form of a nanocomposite significantly enhances its performance. Specifically, we investigate the application of a TiO2/MoS2-rGO nanocomposite as a photoanode material in DSSCs. While this composite has previously shown promise as an electrode material for supercapacitors and batteries, we reveal its substantial potential for DSSCs, particularly in improving the charge transport properties of bare TiO2 through the addition of MoS2 nanosheets, and enhancing porosity by introducing rGO into its lattice. Our results show an impressive 41% increase in efficiency, from 6.6% for pure TiO2-based DSSCs to 9.3% for DSSCs incorporating the TiO2/MoS2-rGO photoanode. Comprehensive studies and analyses were conducted to explore various aspects of the material and device, establishing TiO2/MoS2-rGO as a promising alternative to bare TiO2 in DSSCs.
期刊介绍:
Solar Energy welcomes manuscripts presenting information not previously published in journals on any aspect of solar energy research, development, application, measurement or policy. The term "solar energy" in this context includes the indirect uses such as wind energy and biomass