Performance of TiO2, Cu-TiO2, and N-TiO2 nanoparticles sensitization with natural dyes for dye sensitized solar cells

In this work, the eucalyptus and teak leave extracts are used as natural dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The TiO2, copper doped -TiO2 (Cu-TiO2), and nitrogen doped-TiO2 (N-TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized by using the sol–gel method. The structural, morphological and elemental properties of the prepared samples were tested by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). XRD revealed the anatase-TiO2 phase and calculated crystallite sizes are 10, 11.23, and 13.97 nm, correspondingly. SEM micrograph shows the spherical shaped nanoparticles with less agglomeration and primary elements (Ti, O, Cu, N) confirmed by EDS spectra. Further, the nanoparticles used as a photoanode in DSSC device with natural dyes and studied their performance.