Influence of difference quantity La-doped TiO2 photoanodes on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells: A strategy for choosing an appropriate doping quantity

Facilitated by TiO 2 particles adsorbing lanthanide ions in hydrosol, La-doped TiO 2 was produced by a hydrothermal method . The structure, optical and photoluminescence properties of down-converting photoelectrode with the La 3+ were characterized by X-ray (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDX) and N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms measurement. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated with 0.05   g-La/TiO 2 reached 7.02%, which gave an efficiency improved by 10.36% compared with that of cells fabricated from pure TiO 2 . The improvement in efficiency was ascribed to more dyes adsorbed on the surface of TiO 2 .