"Performance Evaluation of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) Using TiO₂ Nanoparticles: Effect of Electrolyte Type and Sintering Methods"

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) represent a promising class of low-cost, environmentally friendly photovoltaic devices that offer an alternative to conventional silicon-based solar cells. The present study investigates the properties of DSSCs constructed from titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles for their photovoltaic efficiency, focusing on evaluating the impact of electrolyte composition (aqueous vs. gel) and sintering technique (oven vs. hotplate). Inspired by sustainable solar cell development as demonstrated by Domenici et al. (2025) and Galliano et al. (2020). The experimental process involved multi-step fabrication of the photoanode, which involved substrate cleaning, deposition of the block layer, deposition of mesoporous TiO₂ layer, treatment with TiCl₄, sensitization of the dye with D149 dye, and counter electrode preparation using platinum sputtering. DSSC was assembled by Surlyn-based sealing and electrolyte injection. Four configurations were examined: Oven + Gel, Oven + Aqueous, Hotplate + Gel, and Hotplate + Aqueous. Key photovoltaic parameters — Short Circuit Current Density (Jsc), Open Circuit Voltage (Voc), Fill Factor (FF), and Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) — were measured and characterized. Results indicated that the Oven + Gel configuration offered greater efficiency because of increased interfacial contact, reduced recombination, and improved sintering homogeneity. Surface morphology experiments revealed that oven-sintered films exhibited smoother and more porous surface topographies, while hotplate sintering created surface defects that constrained performance. The findings validate the synergistic benefit of optimised sintering and gel electrolyte systems to enhance DSSC efficiency. Beyond validating trends in previous literature, the research acknowledges practical constraints and offers insight for scalable fabrication of DSSCs in real-world applications.