TiO2 aerogel–metal organic framework nanocomposite: a new class of photoanode material for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

TiO 2 aerogel–metal organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite was synthesized using sol–gel method followed by subcritical drying technique and employed as a photoanode material in quasi-solid dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The nanocomposite material showed a BET surface area of 250 m 2 g - 1 with an average pore size of 5 nm. Field emission scanning electron microscopic images revealed the continuous arrangement of pore-solid network structure. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis shows the presence of MOF clusters on TiO 2 aerogel network. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis also supports the presence of MOF clusters in the aerogel network and indicates the presence of some oxygen vacancies in the nanocomposite material. The TiO 2 aerogel–MOF nanocomposite was used as photoanode in DSSC and an overall power conversion efficiency 2.34% along with a short-circuit current density 6.22 mA cm - 2 was achieved. Graphical abstract