Effect of low-temperature underwater plasma produced of new properties of Mo–Ti mixed oxide composites for electron transport layer in the dye-sensitized solar cells

Highlights: • Mo–Ti mixed oxide composites are potential materials for dye solar cells. • Low-temperature underwater direct current plasma is method for synthesis oxide composites. • Mixed-phase titanium dioxide decorated with nonstoichiometric molybdenum oxide were synthesized. • The obtained oxides composites have good photoresponse. -- Abstract: TiO₂-based composites are potential materials for dye solar cells. Here we report a new method for synthesizing a new composite material based on molybdenum and titanium oxides. Low-temperature underwater direct current plasma is used as a synthesis method, and Mo and Ti wires were as electrodes. The polarity of the electrode affects the nature of the array. It was found that with the positive polarity of the molybdenum electrode (anode), MoO₃ decorated with rutile is formed. The mixed-phase TiO₂ decorated MoO_x (x = 2.75–2.85) is formed by the negative polarity Mo of the electrode (cathode). The synthesized composites show improved characteristics in the photocurrent response and photovoltaics.