TiO$_2$ aerogel–metal organic framework nanocomposite: a new class of photoanode material for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

摘要

TiO$_2$ aerogel–metal organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite was synthesized using sol–gel method followedby subcritical drying technique and employed as a photoanode material in quasi-solid dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Thenanocomposite material showed aBET surface area of 250 m$^2$ 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 TiO$_2$ aerogel network. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis alsosupports the presence of MOF clusters in the aerogel network and indicates the presence of some oxygen vacancies in thenanocomposite material. The TiO$_2$ aerogel–MOF nanocomposite was used as photoanode in DSSC and an overall power conversion efficiency 2.34% along with a short circuit current density 6.22 mA cm$^ {?2}$ was achieved.