Structural Behavior of Ni-Doped TIO<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles and its Photovoltaic Performance on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC)

Different concentrations of Ni-doped anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles were prepared by ice-bath co-precipitation method to examine the effects of various Ni 2+ concentrations on the power exchange mechanism in photovoltaic performances of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) revealed a single anatase phase present in all samples together with three times reduction of particle size with the addition of Ni 2+ . Nanoparticle size exhibited better uniformity under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an increase of Ni 2+ ions. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the formation of Ti-O-Ni bonding due to sharpened and enhanced intensity of the bands in the range of 500-1000 cm -1 and 910-1030 cm -1 . Ni 2+ concentrations also increased both open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current (I sc ). The optimum concentration of Ni-doping obtained was at 0.075M of Ni which shows a maximum DSSC efficiency of 0.38%.