Enhanced Efficiency of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Using Eu doped TiO2-ZrO2 Nanocomposite

Abstract

: Hydrothermal method was used to prepare TiO2-ZrO2 and Eu doped TiO2-ZrO2 nanocomposites for dye sensitized solar cell application. X ray diffraction was used to study the structural properties of prepared samples. Anatase, Rutile phases of TiO2 and Monoclinic and tetragonal phases of ZrO2 have been detected from XRD in prepared samples. The crystallite size of prepared samples lies between 6 to 18 nm. The absorption edge has been shifted to the longer wavelength region. The optical bandgap of TiO2-ZrO2 (2.15 eV) and Eu doped TiO2-ZrO22nanocomposites (2.03 eV) have been calculated using Tauc’s plot. The decrease in bandgap compared to pure TiO2 has been observed. The increased refractive index has been determined from UV -Visible spectra. Because of high refractive index photons can stay for longer period of time inside the material and then they can be used to generate electrons in dye sensitized solar cell. An attempt was made to prepare an inexpensive dye sensitized solar cell by replacing synthetic organic dye with natural dye (pomegranate juice) and platinum coated counter electrode by carbon coated electrode. The improvement in efficiency has been recorded for prepared samples and it has been found to be 0.71%, 1.97% and 6.25% for TiO2, TiO2-ZrO22nanocomposite and Eu doped TiO2-ZrO2 nanocomposite, respectively.