Structural, thermal and optoelectrical properties of pure and gadolinium doped barium strontium titanate for DSSC applications

A conventional method was adopted to prepare pure barium strontium titanate (BST) and gadolinium (Gd) doped BST nano perovskite (BSGT). The present investigation focused on various properties of as pure BST and BSGT for energy conversion applications. Cubic structure with Pm3/m space group was noticed in the structural mode of BST and BSGT by X-Ray diffraction analysis. Numerous functional groups related to BST and BSGT were assigned from Fourier-transform infrared peaks. The optical bandgap energy of BST decreased with the inclusion of Gd3+, which was investigated by UV-Vis spectrum. Electrical responses of prepared nano perovskite samples were identified by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Therefore, the IV characteristics were deliberated to study the BST and BSGT as photoanode for DSSC applications. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.