Achieving enhanced DSSC performance by microwave plasma incorporation of carbon into TiO2 photoelectrodes

► Microwave plasma incorporation of carbon into TiO2 photoelectrodes. ► Methane addition into the argon-oxygen sintering plasma for carbon incorporation. ► Deposited carbon is concentrated on the surface of TiO2 and not in the bulk. ► Photoactivity enhancement compared to TiO2 sintering without methane addition. ► Enhancement is likely to be due to increased electron conductivity and lifetime.