Improved optical and electrochemical performance of MoS2-incorporated TiO2-PbS nanocomposite for solar paint application

Solar paint-based quantum dot-sensitized solar cells are promising low-cost photovoltaic devices. However, due to various detrimental optoelectronic features including poor transfer and higher recombination of electrons and holes (e–h), solar paints exhibit inferior photovoltaic performance. In this regard, we used exfoliated MoS2 in TiO2-PbS nanocomposite (NC)-based solar paint and ensued its better charge carrier generation and transfer characteristics. At first, MoS2 sheets were effectually developed via liquid-phase exfoliation technique from bulk MoS2 powder and then strategically incorporated in TiO2-PbS NC. TiO2-PbS NC was synthesized using pseudo-successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (p-SILAR) method and qualitatively analyzed using SEM, EDS, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and other techniques. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed the efficacy of MoS2 addition as it exhibited compatible thermal behavior with TiO2-PbS NC which is critical for solar paint application. Using impedance-based electrochemical spectroscopic investigation in polysulfide electrolyte, we concluded that addition of exfoliated MoS2 in TiO2-PbS NC successfully yields lower charge transfer resistance and dictates superior performance of solar paint.