Synthesis of Bi₂S₃-sensitized TiO₂ photoanodes for enhanced photovoltaic performance in solar cell application

The synthesis of Bi₂S₃ nanoparticles for sensitizing TiO₂ photoanodes were synthesized through a cost-effective and straightforward approach using modified chemical bath deposition (M-CBD) or successive ionic atomic layer adsorption reactions (SILAR) at room temperature. Initially, a TiO₂ seed layer was synthesized at room temperature via the chemical bath deposition method, followed by deposition of a mesoporous TiO₂ layer using the doctor blade method. This study investigated the influence of the number of SILAR cycles and the choice of counter electrodes on the performance of Bi₂S₃/TiO₂-based photoelectrodes. Characterization of the prepared Bi₂S₃/TiO₂ photoanode involved various techniques, including X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, enabling the analysis of its structural, optical, and morphological properties. The Bi₂S₃/TiO₂-based cell exhibits a maximum conversion efficiency of 0.8%, demonstrating the potential of this combination for photovoltaic applications. This study contributes to the field of solar cell technology by presenting a novel approach for sensitizing TiO₂ photoanodes with Bi₂S₃ nanoparticles, offering insights into the optimization of fabrication parameters and performance enhancement strategies for future device design and development.