Aromatic amine passivated TiO2 for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) with ~9.8% efficiency.

• Aromatic amines namely aniline and o-phenylenediamine capped TiO 2 was synthesized. • The life time of o-phenylenediamine/TiO 2 (T-2) composite was measured as 9.8 ms. • Photo-conversion efficiency of T-2 composite was found to be 9.84%. In this work, the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was improved by capping TiO 2 with simple aromatic amines as a complexing agent. The aromatic amines, aniline and o-phenylenediamine capped TiO 2 composites were synthesized via hydrothermal route and used as scattering layer in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Markedly, the maximum photo-conversion efficiency of 9.84% was achieved with o-phenylenediamine capped-TiO 2 composite as o-phenylenediamine capped-TiO 2 showed higher reflectivity than the pristine TiO 2 , which is highly beneficial for reflecting the photons back to photoanode. In addition, the average life time of carriers in o-phenylenediamine capped-TiO 2 was found to be 9.8 ms, which was 2 times higher than the pristine TiO 2 (4.29 ms). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]