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

In this paper, we demonstrate the application of a novel ternary nanocomposite MoS2/Ag/TiO2 photoanode in high efficiency plasma dye sensitive solar cell (PDSSC). Ternary nanocomposites MoS2/Ag/TiO2 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 MoS2 inhibits electron–hole recombination and promotes electron transport in the ternary nano-composite MoS2/Ag/TiO2. The nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscope and transmission electronmicroscope, which indicated that the MoS2/Ag/TiO2 was synthesized. Due to local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), silver nanoparticles were doped onto TiO2 nanoparticles, which greatly improved the optical parameters. The synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and MoS2 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 MoS2/Ag/TiO2 was tested, the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) reaches 9.3%, which is 26% higher than that of pure TiO2 nanoparticle photoanode.