Fabrication and characterization of TiO₂ & SnO₂ nanoparticles as a photoanodes in dye sensitized solar cell

The third generation of solar cells that found by Gratzel in 1991 was called Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). DSSC is composed of five parts namely Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) as a substrate; TiO₂ and SnO₂ nanoparticles as semiconductor materials; natural dyes (chlorophyll alfalfa) as an electron donor; gel electrolyte as electron transfer; active carbon as a catalyst which can convert light energy into electrical energy. The layer of two semiconductors was deposited on top of an substrat by doctor-blade method. Characterization of DSSC photoanoda materials that will be carried out in this research are: electrical characterization using Keithley I-V meter, optical characteristic characterization and bandgap analysis using UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, DSSC efficiency using TiO₂ as a semiconductor highest than DSSC using SnO₂ as a semiconductor. Characterization of photoanoda layer with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). From the research, DSSC with a TiO₂ photoanoda capable of producing a higher efficiency than with SnO₂ photoanoda. The results shows 0, 05% for DSSC using TiO₂ photoanoda and 0,022% for DSSC using SnO₂ photoanoda. (paper)