Evaluation of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells using Rutile-Mesoporous-SiO2@TiO2/CQDs as Scattering Layer

Global warming is one of the most pressing environmental challenges worldwide. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have garnered significant attention as an eco-friendly alternative for energy generation, as they produce electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. Achieving a breakthrough in DSSC efficiency is crucial for overcoming the performance ceiling of conventional photoanodes. This work presents a highly scalable and simple light-harvesting strategy that significantly advances the state of the art in TiO₂-based composite architectures. In this study, we investigated the impact of incorporating Rutile-Mesoporous-SiO₂@TiO₂/carbon quantum dots (CQDs) particles into the scattering layer of DSSCs. The synthesized particles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Their performance as a component of DSSCs was also evaluated in terms of power conversion efficiency. SEM analysis revealed that the addition of CQDs induced distinct surface irregularities, which were not observed in the undoped samples. UV–Vis measurements demonstrated that Rutile-MP-SiO₂@TiO₂/CQDs particles exhibited higher reflectance in the 380–780 nm range compared to their CQD-free counterparts. Furthermore, the proposed Rutile-MP-SiO₂@TiO₂/CQDs scattering layer markedly enhanced light scattering, yielding a 32.77% higher power density than cells with Anatase-MP-SiO₂@TiO₂. This simple and effective strategy overcomes conventional limitations and enables high-performance DSSCs.