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TiO 2 based nanostructures have been widely explored as photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) because of their favourable band gap and corresponding compatibility with various sensitizers (dye molecules). Various morphologies and textures of titanium oxide have been thoroughly investigated to find the best efficiency in DSSCs. In this work, a detailed study of a nanocomposite of titanium dioxide partly derived from hydrogen titanate precursor has been reported. The current structure is realized in order to achieve optimal photogenerated charge carrier transport and reduced charge recombination. Among many combinations of the composites, the best photoanode showed power conversion efficiency (η) of 8.61% and corresponding open circuit voltage was 0.69 V and short circuit current 17.22 mA cm−2. The efficiency enhancement for the nanorod-nanoparticle composite photoanode is explained by structural, optical, and morphological properties and corroborated with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. • TiO 2 -based nanorod-nanoparticle nanocomposite photoanode. • Maximum power conversion efficiency of 8.61%. • IPCE value with a maximum value of ∼64.6% at 525 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H 2 and CO 2 adsorption was investigated using pristine hydrogen titanate nanotube (HTNT) and nanorod (HTNR). HTNT and HTNR were modified with N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylene-diamine (TPEDA). Chemical linkage between an amine-containing organosilane and titanium on the surface of hydrogen titanate was confirmed with 29 Si CP-MAS NMR spectrum. H 2 and CO 2 uptake on several hydrogen titanate samples was obtained by a TGA Q50 analyzer in flowing N 2 gas of 40 mL/min and CO 2 gas of 60 mL/min at 25 °C and 1 atm. Pristine HTNT sample showed the highest H 2 uptake (i.e. ∼12.5 mmol/g) on a TGA microbalance at 25 °C whereas amine-modified HTNT sample exhibited the highest CO 2 uptake (i.e. ∼1.2 mmol/g) among all samples studied. CO 2 /N 2 and H 2 /N 2 selectivity for pristine and amine-modified HTNT samples was investigated by comparing the weight of the sample in flowing pure N 2 gas of 100 mL/min with above-mentioned mixed flows at 25 °C. Reversibility for CO 2 and H 2 uptake showed good performance for 9 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]