Economically applicable Ti₂O₃ decorated m-aminophenol-formaldehyde resin microspheres for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

In this present study, we focus on economically applicable polymeric material as photo-anode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Water droplets on grass like Ti₂O₃ decorated m-aminophenol-formaldehyde resin microspheres (mAPFR@Ti₂O₃) synthesized by surfactant-free and template-free hydrothermal method. The synthesized mAPFR@Ti₂O₃ material morphology was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From that results, it was found in uniform arrangements with excellent thermal stability. As we know from the literature we are the first to report the mechanism about mAPFR microspheres formations. Owing to the low temperature processing, cheap cost and easy preparation in this current study we propose to use mAPFR@Ti₂O₃ microspheres as an active material for the preparation of doped photo-anode in DSSCs exhibited the short-circuit photocurrent density (J_sc) of 18.14 mA cm⁻², open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.70 V, fill factor (FF) of 0.62, power conversion efficiency is 7.90% which is 84% greater than that of DSSCs with conventional TiO₂ electrode.