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Performance of Nanostructured TiO2 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Incorporating Cubic CeO2 Particles

Oveisi, Anahita | 2025

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 57882 (07)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Materials Science and Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Mohammadi, Mohammad Reza
  7. Abstract:
  8. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have gained attention as an emerging technology for harnessing solar energy due to their environmental compatibility and potential as an alternative to fossil fuels. In this study, the primary objective was to enhance the performance of DSSCs by optimizing the photoanode structure through the addition of cerium oxide to titanium oxide. To achieve this, nanocomposites with varying amounts of titanium oxide and cerium oxide were synthesized. By fabricating different photoelectrodes and solar cells, the crystalline, structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of these samples were analyzed using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Brunauer- Emmett-Teller (BET), Mott-Schottky analysis, current-voltage (J-V) measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The UV-Vis absorption-desorption spectra of the N719 dye revealed that the incorporation of cerium oxide nanoparticles into titanium oxide significantly increased dye absorption. This enhancement was attributed to the increased specific surface area and pore volume in the optimized sample (TCe-1), as confirmed by BET analysis. In this sample, the specific surface area increased to 112.2 m2/g, and the total pore volume reached 0.4 cm3/g. These characteristics led to greater dye molecule adsorption and facilitated charge transfer. The bandgap of sample TCe-1 decreased from 3.11 eV (pure anatase reference sample) to 3.06 eV. This reduction in bandgap, along with upward shift of energy levels, resulted in improved light absorption in the visible region, enhanced electron injection, and the formation of intermediate energy states. Photovoltaic performance analysis of DSSCs demonstrated that the addition of 1 wt% cerium oxide to titanium oxide improved the energy conversion efficiency by 44.2% compared to the reference sample. The TCe-1 sample exhibited the best performance, with an efficiency of 9.76%, a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 18.79 mA/cm2, and an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.71 V. EIS analysis further confirmed that the optimal incorporation of CeO2 in TCe-1 reduced charge transfer resistance, thereby enhancing photovoltaic efficiency. These findings indicate that the strategic use of cerium oxide in combination with titanium oxide can significantly improve the performance of DSSCs, offering an effective approach to advancing renewable energy technology
  9. Keywords:
  10. Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ; Cerium Oxide ; Nanocomposite Based on Titanium Dioxide ; Light Absorption ; Energy

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