Performance enhancement of NiTsPc based photo sensor using treated TiO2 NPs film

We report the dye-sensitized photo sensors fabricated by utilizing a water soluble organic photo sensitizer, Nickel (II) phthalocyanine-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt (NiTsPc). To fabricate the sensors, two different types of TiO 2 films (untreated and NaOH treated) have been prepared to serve as anodes. Both the TiO 2 films were subsequently sensitized by the NiTsPc aqueous solution. Commercially available, Iodolyte Z100 has been used as an electrolyte, whereas platinum-coated ITO has been used as a cathode. The NaOH-treated sensor showed 2.81 times increase in photo-conductivity sensitivity as compared to the untreated sensor. Both sensors showed a fairly good and rapid response. The NaOH-treated sensor, however, surpassed the other sensor in terms of response/recovery times and stability in plateau values of the photocurrent. The proposed photo sensors are eco-friendly and economical to manufacture as well.