Influence of Zn source on the performance of enhanced photocatalytic and dye sensitized solar cells efficiency based TiO2 films prepared by spray pyrolysis

Pure and zinc-doped titanium dioxide (Zn-doped TiO2) thin films were deposited on indium tin oxide coated glass plates using spray pyrolysis technique. The XRD pattern revealed the formation of anatase TiO2 with the maximum intensity of (101) plane with doping of zinc. The morphological studies depicted the porous nature, with the uniform arrangement of small-sized grains (SEM). The presence of zinc confirmed the EDX spectra. High resolution transmission electron microscope revealed the agglomerated spherical-like morphology and the particle size in the range of 10-20 nm. It was observed that the average transmittance was about 85 % for the zinc doped TiO2 film, which decreased the energy band gap. The PL study showed the emission peak at 418 nm for the doped films. The low resistivity maximum carrier concentration and Hall mobility was observed in Zn doped TiO2 films. The prepared Zn doped TiO2 thin film was proposed as the promising photocatalyst for the degradation and decolorization of methylene blue dye. The efficiency of anatase TiO2 photoelectrode deposited at the substrate temperature 450 A degrees C based cell was much higher than the efficiency of Zn doped TiO2 photoelectrode cell.