The enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency of N3 sensitized MgTiO3 modified nanoporous TiO2 electrodes

The preparation of nanoporous TiO2 electrodes modified with an MgTiO3 layer and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were reported. The conduction band of MgTiO3 stands higher than that of TiO2, so the MgTiO3 layer can be beneficial to the improvement of nanoporous TiO2 electrodes. The as-prepared TiO2/MgTiO3 electrodes were characterized by XRD and the diffraction of its crystal plane (1 0 4) was detected, demonstrating the existence of MgTiO3 phase on the surface of TiO2. Compared with bare TiO2 electrodes, MgTiO3 modified TiO2 electrodes presented more dye adsorption. Moreover an energy barrier formed as TiO2 electrodes were modified with MgTiO3 layer, which suppresses the charge recombination. As a result, the photoelectrochemical properties of the modified electrodes were improved and the overall energy conversion efficiency η was increased from 6.12% to 8.75% under the illumination of a white light of 100 mW/cm2.