TiO2 aerogel–metal organic framework nanocomposite: A new class of photoanode material for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Abstract

TiO2 aerogel–metal organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite was synthesized using sol–gel method followed by subcritical drying technique and employed as a photoanode material in quasi-solid dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The nanocomposite material showed aBET surface area of 250 m2 g−1 with an average pore size of 5 nm. Field emission scanning electron microscopic images revealed the continuous arrangement of pore-solid network structure. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis shows the presence of MOF clusters on TiO2 aerogel network. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis also supports the presence of MOF clusters in the aerogel network and indicates the presence of some oxygen vacancies in the nanocomposite material. The TiO2 aerogel–MOF nanocomposite was used as photoanode in DSSC and an overall power conversion efficiency 2.34% along with a short-circuit current density 6.22mAcm−2 was achieved.