MoS2/Ag/TiO2 for photoanode of dye sensitized solar cells

In this paper, we demonstrate the application of a novel ternary nanocomposite MoS 2 /Ag/TiO 2 photoanode in high efficiency plasma dye sensitive solar cell (PDSSC). Ternary nanocomposites MoS 2 /Ag/TiO 2 was successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal method without any hazardous substances. In order to achieve higher photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSC, the photoanode’s ability of capturing light and electron transfer rates needs to be improved. Ag provides a power for light capture, while MoS 2 inhibits electron–hole recombination and promotes electron transport in the ternary nano-composite MoS 2 /Ag/TiO 2 . The nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscope and transmission electronmicroscope, which indicated that the MoS 2 /Ag/TiO 2 was synthesized. Due to local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), silver nanoparticles were doped onto TiO 2 nanoparticles, which greatly improved the optical parameters. The synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and MoS 2 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The performance of dye sensitive solar cell (DSSC) composed of ternary nano-composite material MoS 2 /Ag/TiO 2 was tested, the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) reaches 9.3%, which is 26% higher than that of pure TiO 2 nanoparticle photoanode.