Charge transport mechanism in dye-sensitized solar cells based on La2MnTiO6 and MOF-derived Cr2O3/C nanocomposites as bi-layered photoanodes

A rising number of photovoltaic technologies are showing interest in the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Due to its many useful features, including its ability to use of widely available components, good sensitivity to light diffusion and manufacturing versatility, DSSCs can be employed as the futuristic PV devices. Performances of DSSCs were improved by developing double-layered photoanodes consisting of La2MnTiO6+Cr2O3/C nanocomposites in diverse ratios to find the optimal amount. Because of superior light absorbing as well as light-scattering abilities, high amount of dye loading, porous surfaces with high electron transport capacity, and less electron-hole recombination at the 70%La2MnTiO6+30%Cr2O3/C film/TiO2/electrolyte interface, the champion cell based on TiO2/20% (70%La2MnTiO6+30%Cr2O3/C) photoanode showed a 2.19-fold higher power conversion efficiency (PCE=9.00%) than the traditional TiO2 monolayer based photoanode (PCE=4.11%). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis was done to study the charge transport mechanism in the fabricated DSSCs. The highest electron-hole recombination resistance was obtained for the DSSC with the champion (70%La2MnTiO6+30%Cr2O3/C) photoanode.