Effects of surface modification of MoS₂:TiO₂:Pt counter electrodes by argon plasma treatment on photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

The MoS₂:TiO₂:Pt counter electrode (CE) treated using argon plasma provides possibilities to improve photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The experimental results revealed that the argon plasma-treated MoS₂:TiO₂:Pt composite influences on the power conversion efficiency by enhancing electrocatalytic activity that serves to increase the short circuit current. The findings show the importance of plasma treatment time in achieving optimization of DSSCs. The induced conversion of chloroplatinic acid into metallic Pt on the CE surfaces by argon plasma treatment promotes the overpotential modification at the MoS₂:TiO₂:Pt CE/electrolyte interfaces, resulting in the increased probability of the reduction of triiodide to iodide.