Experimental investigation of photocatalytic and photovoltaic activity of titania/rice husk crystalline nano-silica hybrid composite

- Green synthesis of crystalline nanosilica which was achieved using rice husk.
- Thin film solar cell fabricarion and characterization.
- Hybrid titania-nanosilica composite for solar cell and photocatalyst field.

As a kind of highly operative, stable photocatalysts and low‐cost, TiO2 has received significant scientific attention. However, it can only be initiated under ultraviolet light irradiation owing to its wide bandgap, weak separation efficiency of carriers and high recombination. Doping or making composites is an active method to outspread the light absorption to the visible light region. This article describes the extraction procedure of nano-silica from rice husk through a dissolution-precipitation process and producing titania-nanosilica composites by sol-gel method for photocatalytic and photovoltaic application where extracted nanosilica act as green filler to enhance the surface area of titania photocatalyst and an inhibitor of recombination. Our general plans are anticipated by passivated composite to enhance the activity of TiO2 semiconductors. This results show that the TiO2 /rice husk extracted crystalline nanosilica (RHCNS) has formed an active hybrid photocatalyst which is significant for photovoltaics application also. Large enhancement of photovoltaic parameters and rate of dye degradation of the TiO2/RHCNS composite observed which is stepping path to further development in adsorption-assisted photocatalysts under both UV and visible lights.

Graphical representation of the green synthesis of crystalline nanosilica which was achieved using rice husk by a dissolution-precipitation method. The resulting pure crystalline nanosilica doped titania hybrid composite was used as a staining agent for the photocatalyst and solar cell application.372