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.