Nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has a potential platform for the removal of organic contaminants, but it has some limitations. To overcome these limitations, we devised a promising strategy in the present work, the heterostructures of TiO₂ sensitized by molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanoflowers synthesized by the mechanochemical route and utilized as an efficient photocatalyst for methyl orange (MO) degradation. The surface of TiO₂ sensitized by MoS₂ was comprehensively characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform–infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). From XRD results, the optimized MoS₂–TiO₂ (5.0 wt %) nanocomposite showcases the lowest crystallite size of 14.79 nm than pristine TiO₂ (20 nm). The FT–IR and XPS analyses of the MoS₂–TiO₂ nanocomposite exhibit the strong interaction between MoS₂ and TiO₂. The photocatalytic results show that sensitization of TiO₂ by MoS₂ drastically enhanced the photocatalytic activity of pristine TiO₂. According to the obtained results, the optimal amount of MoS₂ loading was assumed to be 5.0 wt %, which exhibited a 21% increment of MO photodegradation efficiency compared to pristine TiO₂ under UV–vis light. The outline of the overall study describes the superior photocatalytic performance of 5.0 wt % MoS₂–TiO₂ nanocomposite which is ascribed to the delayed recombination by efficient charge transfer, high surface area, and elevated surface oxygen vacancies. The context of the obtained results designates that the sensitization of TiO₂ with MoS₂ is a very efficient nanomaterial for photocatalytic applications.

We have demonstrated organometallic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on Au decorated TiO₂ nanofibers and methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃). A power conversion efficiency of 14.92% was achieved, which is significantly higher than that of conventional mesoporous (mp) TiO₂, as well as TiO₂ nanofiber-based devices. The present synthetic process provides new opportunities for the development of efficient plasmonic PSCs based on metal oxide nanofibers. Solar cells based on these architectures exhibit a short-circuit current density J_SC of 21.63 ± 0.36 mA cm⁻², V_OC of 0.986 ± 0.01 V and fill factor of 70% ± 3%, which provide a power conversion efficiency of 14.92% ± 0.33% under standard AM 1.5 conditions. The results of time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy and solid-state impedance spectroscopy (ssIS) revealed that PSCs based on Au-decorated TiO₂ nanofibers exhibit a low recombination rate. The present results are much higher than those for reported PSCs based on a Au@TiO₂ electron-transporting layer (ETL).

There has been fast recent progress in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) towards low cost photovoltaic technology. Organometal mixed halide (MAPbX or FAPbX) perovskites are the most promising light absorbing material sandwiched between the electron transport layer (ETL) and hole transport layer (HTL). These two layers play a critical role in boosting the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and maintaining air stability. However, the device stability is a serious issue in regular as well as p-i-n inverted type perovskite solar cells. This mini-review briefly outlines the state-of-art of p-i-n/n-i-p type planar hybrid perovskite solar cells using MAPbX/FAPbX perovskite absorbing layers. Later, we will focus on recent trends, progress and further opportunities in exploring the air stable hybrid planar structure PSCs.

Development of ternary metal oxide (TMO) based electron transporting layer (ETL) for perovskite solar cell open a new approaches toward efficient a unique strategy for solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSSCs). In the present investigation, highly porous zinc tin oxide (Zn₂SnO₄) scaffold nanofibers has been synthesized by electrospinning technique and successfully used for methyl ammonium lead halide (CH₃NH₃PbI₃) perovskite sensitized solid state solar cells. The fabricated optimized perovskite solar cell devices exhibited 7.38% power conversion efficiency (PCE) with open circuit voltage (V_OC) 0.986 V, current density (J_SC) = 12.68 mAcm^-2 and fill factor (FF) 0.59 under AM 1.5 G sunlight (100 mWcm⁻²) which is higher than Zn₂SnO₄ nanoparticle (η = 2.52%) based perovskite solar cells. This improvement is achieved due to high porosity of Zn₂SnO₄ nanofibers and high crystallinity of the nanofibers synthesized at 700 °C. These results are remarkably higher than reported perovskite solar cells based on such type of ternary metal oxide ETLs.