DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v26i3.73

Keywords: DSSC; TiO2; tin; low temperature; photoanode

Abstract

The charge transfer of electrons is an important process in the dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) photoanode. However, the low temperature for the sintering of flexible DSSC photoanode caused low interparticle connectivity and poor charge transfer in titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based photoanode. Therefore, this study aimed to integrate tin (Sn) as sintering aid to TiO2 photoanode at 150 °C as an effort to resolve the issue. Morphological analysis found that there were necks forming at the TiO2-Sn interface. These necks helped to enhance the interparticle connection in the photoanode. The improvement was further proved from the electron transfer analysis which showed lower charge transfer and series resistance values by 86% when Sn sintering aid was integrated. The resistance values were also found to be lower than commercially prepared TiO2 photoanode prepared at 450 °C. Hence, Sn metal was found to a suitable sintering to produce high performing DSSC photoanode component. Flexible DSSC with high performance and efficiency could be fabricated from the low temperature process used in the research.