X-Ray Absorption and Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Biotemplated Titanium Dioxide for Solar Energy Applications

Climate change is having profound and far-reaching impacts on our planet, including rising ocean levels, disrupted temperature patterns, and increasingly severe storms. These changes are largely driven by human reliance on fossil fuels for energy production, which leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions. To address this issue, researchers are actively exploring alternative energy sources that can mitigate the effects of climate change. Solar energy is one of the most promising options due to the abundance of the sun as a resource for producing energy. Clean solar energy is crucial in combating climate change and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.<br/>Among the available solar technologies, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are notable for their cost-effectiveness and lower environmental impact. DSSCs operate by using a semiconductor, typically titanium dioxide, to facilitate electron transport, but their efficiency remains limited by factors such as dye adsorption and light absorption capabilities. This project focuses on understanding how biotemplation affects the structure and physicochemical properties of the semiconductor titanium dioxide to improve light harvesting. Specifically, biotemplation with oregano leaves was used in the synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, aiming to control particle growth and porosity, thereby improving dye adsorption and light harvesting efficiency. A deeper understanding of the structural and property changes in titanium dioxide could lead to the development of better materials for solar cells.<br/>In this study, X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) was employed to assess the effect of biotemplation on the oxidation state, structure, and symmetry of titanium in biotemplated titanium dioxide nanoparticles. In addition to structural analysis, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was performed to assess the surface chemistry of the biotemplated titanium dioxide. Preliminary results from these analyses reveal that biotemplation significantly alters the crystalline structure of the titanium dioxide particles obtained by this method and contributes to changes in the chemical composition of the samples.