Synthesis and Characterization of Eugenia jambolana Dye Sensitized TiO2 Thin Films

Abstract

Modified chemical bath deposition method is adopted for the deposition of TiO₂ thin films. Eugenia jambolana is used as the natural dye sensitizer. Systematic study on the structural and optical properties of the as-deposited, annealed and dye-sensitized TiO₂ thin films is carried out. The material is crystallized in anatase phase of TiO₂. The pigment present in Eugenia jambolana is identified as cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. An enhancement in the optical absorption of the films is observed upon dye sensitization. Band gap of the dye sensitized TiO₂ films is in the range of 2.5 eV-3.6 eV. The material exhibited photoluminescence which may be ascribed to the recombination of electrons via self trapped excitons located or trapped in octahedral TiO₆.