ZnO/Ti3C2T x composite photoanodes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have gained significant attention as a promising photovoltaic technology due to their simple fabrication methods and low cost. To improve the competitiveness of DSSC against other photovoltaic devices, enhancing the efficiency is crucial. In this study, we explore the incorporation of Ti 3 C 2 T x , a two-dimensional (2D) material known for its excellent conductivity, into the fabrication of composite photoanode films for DSSC. We prepared ZnO/Ti 3 C 2 T x composite films with different concentration of 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4 wt%. The optimal photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.65% was achieved at a Ti 3 C 2 T x concentration of 0.2 wt%, representing a 41.4% improvement compared with 4.70% conversion efficiency of pure ZnO films. The introduction of Ti 3 C 2 T x facilitated electron transport and increased electron transfer pathways, which enhanced photoelectric performance. These findings highlight the potential of Ti 3 C 2 T x based composite photoanode for advancing the efficiency of DSSC.