Low dye content efficient dye-sensitized solar cells using carbon doped-titania paste from convenient green synthetic process

Abstract In this paper, we present a green approach based on a simple “multi-step” mild process to easily produce carbon doped TiO2, using low-cost titania nanoparticles and chemical eco-friendly glucose (C6H12O6) as the C-dopant. DSSCs produced by C-doped samples show increased visible light absorption. Using a single 12 μm layer, the C-doped photoanode reached the same solar energy conversion efficiency obtained by the photoanode film prepared from conventional TiO2 nanoparticles but using half of dye content, as a consequence of improved electronic performances.