Development of a Single-Layer TiO₂ Photoanode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC)
Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are considered a promising low-cost and flexible alternative to conventional silicon-based photovoltaic technologies. This work reports the fabrication and analysis of DSSC based on a single-layer nanostructured TiO₂ photoanode. The proposed cell architecture is simplified by eliminating the conventional double-layer configuration, which reduces fabrication complexity and material consumption. The electrochemical and photovoltaic characteristics of the devices were systematically investigated. The energy conversion efficiency of the developed single-layer design is approximately twice that of a conventional two-layer cell. The performance enhancement is attributed to reduced internal resistance, improved electron transport, and suppressed charge recombination. The results demonstrate the potential of simplified single-layer DSSC architectures for transparent, flexible, and low-cost energy-harvesting applications.
Downloads
References
M. Grätzel, “Recent advances in sensitized mesoscopic solar cells,” Accounts of Chemical Research, 42 (11), 1788–1798 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1021/ar900141y
K. Hong, R. Song, and H. Chen, “Nature-inspired hierarchical nanostructures as optimal photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells,” Materials Today Energy, 54, 102099 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtener.2025.102099
L. Wei, X. Xu, L. Zhao, J. Liu, R. Wang, and X. Zhang, “Design and fabrication of layered TiO₂/rGO composited photoanode and its photovoltaic performance regulation for dye-sensitized solar cells,” Optical Materials, 154, 115709 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2024.115709
B. O’Regan, and M. Grätzel, “A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO₂ films,” Nature, 353, 737–740 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/353737a0
A. Hagfeldt, G. Boschloo, L. Sun, L. Kloo, and H. Pettersson, “Dye-sensitized solar cells,” Chemical Reviews, 110, 6595–6663 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1021/cr900356p
M. Grätzel, “Dye-sensitized solar cells,” Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews, 4, 145–153 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1389-5567(03)00026-1
O.O. Mamatkarimov, B. Uktamaliyev, and A.A. Abdukarimov, “Determination of ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes in Li-ion batteries using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,” An International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 11(7), 141–146 (2021). https://doi.org/10.5958/2249-7137.2021.01735.3
N. Sharibaev, and A. Ergashov, “Mathematical modeling of processes in a dye-sensitized photocell,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2373(7), 072044 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2373/7/072044
N.Y. Sharibayev, M.M. Kakharov, S.S. Kakharov, and A.Q. Ergashev, “Determination of the characteristics of polymer-containing electronic elements using a mobile device,” Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education, 12(4), 61–68 (2021).
Q. Zhang, and G. Cao, “Nanostructured photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells,” Nano Today, 6(1), 91–109 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2010.12.007
A.K. Arof, S. Amirudin, S.Z. Yusof, and I.M. Noor, “A method based on impedance spectroscopy to determine transport properties of polymer electrolytes,” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 16, 1856–1867 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1039/C3CP53830C
E Aram, M Ehsani, and H.A. Khonakdar, “Improvement of ionic conductivity and performance of quasi-solid-state dye sensitized solar cells using PEO/PMMA gel electrolyte,” Thermochimica Acta, 615, 61–67 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2015.07.006
F. Azeez, and P.S. Fedkiw, “Conductivity of LiBOB-based electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries,” Journal of Power Sources, 195, 7627–7633 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.06.021
Copyright (c) 2026 S.S. Sharipbaev, O.O. Mamatkarimov, N.Yu. Sharibaev, A.A. Abdukarimov, A.K. Arof
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
