CdTe nanoparticles decorated titania for dye sensitized solar cell: a novel co-sensitizer approach towards highly efficient energy conversion

Abstract

A hybrid TiO₂–CdTe multi-layer matrix was fabricated for validation in a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) operating with N3 dye as the sensitizer. The composite matrix was subjected to studies of structural and morphological information, and optical and spectral characterizations before sensitizing with dye. A CdTe–N3 dye conjugate sensitizer over the base TiO₂ matrix improves the functional behavior of the anode by accelerating the charge transport and reducing the recombination within the DSSC framework. The photovoltaic measurements reveal that a moderate loading of CdTe NPs at the anode exhibits a solar conversion efficiency of 11.1% under an optimal illumination of 50 mW cm⁻².