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Effect of polyaniline concentration on the photoconversion efficiency of nano-TiO2 based dye sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

Extensive research have been made in improving the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) performance by designing, tailoring and enhancing the photoconversion properties of the matrix. The approaches used are material synthesis, dye permutation combinations, use of natural extracts or using several sensitizers. The polymers are also being explored in this regards in their pristine or composite forms. Therefore, in this study an attempt is made to synthesize a mesoporous polyaniline–titanium dioxide (PANI–TiO2) nanocomposites with one pot synthesis approach at different concentrations of PANI (0.3–0.7 ml). Titanium isopropoxide was used as precursor for TiO2 with aniline and the material was synthesized at ice bath temperature. Morphological observations showed that the composite is a mesoporous material with tubular structure where TiO2 particles are seen entrapped in the polymer matrix and found that intercalation can be tailored with PANI concentration. Structural, functional and optical characterization indicate anatase phase of TiO2, with several functional bands that can help in dye interaction and broad absorption bands within visible region. The photocurrent-voltage response was measured with simulated light and source-meter. It is interesting to note that increasing PANI concentration enhances the mesoporous structure and hence increases the dye loading capacity and photoconductivity of the material. The efficiency increased by about 22 % with addition of 0.5 ml of PANI from 0.3 ml. The proposed study has indicated that such material have the potential to be used for DSSC fabrication with which the device performance can further be increased to a better levels.

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Acknowledgments

Z. A. Ansari acknowledges the financial support received from Department of Science and Technology, India through a major research project (SR/SO/BB-0072/2012). The authors extend their appreciation to International Scientific Partnership Program ISPP at King Saud University for funding this research work through ISPP-001. The authors acknowledge the measurement support from the Central Instrumentation Facility, Jamia Millia Islamia, India.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India

      Farheen, Shabeena Qadir, S. G. Ansari & Z. A. Ansari

    2. School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk, 712-749, South Korea

      S. A. Ansari, Nazish Parveen & Moo Hwan Cho

    3. Department of Applied Medical Science, Riyadh Community College, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11437, Saudi Arabia

      H. Fouad

    4. Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Helwan University, P.O. Box 11792, Helwan, Egypt

      H. Fouad

    5. School of Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561756, Republic of Korea

      H. K. Seo & H. S. Shin

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    1. H. K. Seo
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    Correspondence to H. K. Seo or Z. A. Ansari.

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    Farheen and S. A. Ansari have contributed equally to this work.

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    Seo, H.K., Farheen, Ansari, S. et al. Effect of polyaniline concentration on the photoconversion efficiency of nano-TiO2 based dye sensitized solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 28, 3210–3216 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-5910-6

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