Plasmonic TiO2/Al@ZnO nanocomposite-based novel dye-sensitized solar cell with 11.4% power conversion efficiency

[Display omitted] •A novel DSSC based on TiO2/Al@ZnO nanocomposite photoanode features 11.4% PCE.•Plasmon-induced PL in TiO2/Al@ZnO is ascribed to resonant excitation of Al plasmons.•Remarkable enhancement of conductivity in TiO2/Al@ZnO under illumination.•Establishment of a facile silver counter electrode via thermal curing process. We report the synthesis, characterization and effect of infusion of aluminium plasmons (Al3+) into titania/zinc oxide (TiO2/Al@ZnO or TAZ) nanocomposite photoanode on the efficiency of novel plasmonic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). On comparison with bare titania/zinc oxide (TiO2/ZnO or TZ) nanocomposite, plasmonic TAZ exhibits a negligible change in crystallographic and morphological properties, whereas the photoconduction and light harvesting capability are significantly enhanced. Prompted by surface plasmon modes, TAZ exhibits strong emissions in the blue-yellow region of visible spectrum, as observed with photoluminescence (PL) study. Owing to plasmon-induced PL, light enhancement takes place within the photoanode. Therefore, photoconductivity of TAZ is observed to be 4 folds higher than that of TZ. The narrowing of bandgap upon Al3+ infusion is confirmed by Kubelka-Munk plot and cyclic voltammetry. Specifically, we also focused on the architecture of novel DSSCs with silver counter electrode via a facile preparation method for the first time. Blending the advantages of nanocomposite, surface plasmon resonance and bandgap narrowing, the multifaceted TAZ features with short-circuit current density JSC ~ 33 mA cm−2, open-circuit voltage VOC ~ 0.41 V, Fill-factor FF ~ 0.81 and a remarkable efficiency of 11.4%, which opens up the opportunity to optimize and design a new class of next generation plasmonic DSSCs.