Tailoring Bandgap and Crystallinity of TiO₂ via Mg Doping for Enhanced DSSC Photoanode Performance

Mursal Mursal; Malahayati Malahayati; Ismail Ismail; Irhamni Irhamni; Zulkarnain Jalil

doi:10.9767/bcrec.20473

DOI: https://doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.20473

Tailoring Bandgap and Crystallinity of TiO₂ via Mg Doping for Enhanced DSSC Photoanode Performance

Mursal Mursal

, Malahayati Malahayati, Ismail Ismail, Irhamni Irhamni, Zulkarnain Jalil

Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia

Received: 12 Aug 2025; Revised: 16 Oct 2025; Accepted: 17 Oct 2025; Available online: 21 Oct 2025; Published: 26 Dec 2025.

Editor(s): Istadi Istadi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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@article{BCREC20473,
    author = {Mursal Mursal and Malahayati Malahayati and Ismail Ismail and Irhamni Irhamni and Zulkarnain Jalil},
    title = {Tailoring Bandgap and Crystallinity of TiO₂ via Mg Doping for Enhanced DSSC Photoanode Performance},
    journal = {Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis},
  volume = {20},
    number = {4},
    year = {2025},
    keywords = {Mg-doped TiO₂; sol–gel method; crystallite size; photoanode; dye-sensitized solar cell},
    abstract = { The structural and optical properties of magnesium-doped titanium dioxide (Mg–TiO₂) nanocrystalline films were investigated for potential application as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The films were synthesized via a sol-gel method using titanium(IV) isopropoxide and magnesium acetate as precursors. Mg doping concentrations ranging from 0 to 4 mol% were explored. The films were deposited onto glass substrates using the doctor blade technique and annealed at various temperatures. Characterization was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–Vis spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of TiO₂, MgO, and MgTiO₃ phases, with a notable decrease in crystallite size as Mg content increased. The smallest crystallite size of 12.71 nm was obtained at 4 mol% Mg doping. SEM images revealed improved surface morphology and more uniform porosity in doped films. FTIR spectra indicated no significant changes in chemical bonding, while UV–Vis analysis showed a decrease in bandgap energy from 3.8 eV to 3.4 eV with Mg doping. These modifications suggest enhanced dye adsorption and reduced charge recombination, indicating the potential of Mg-doped TiO₂ films to improve DSSC performance. Copyright © 2025 by Authors, Published by BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 ). },
   issn = {1978-2993},   pages = {750--756}  doi = {10.9767/bcrec.20473},
    url = {https://journal.bcrec.id/index.php/bcrec/article/view/20473}
}

Citation Format:

Abstract

The structural and optical properties of magnesium-doped titanium dioxide (Mg–TiO₂) nanocrystalline films were investigated for potential application as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The films were synthesized via a sol-gel method using titanium(IV) isopropoxide and magnesium acetate as precursors. Mg doping concentrations ranging from 0 to 4 mol% were explored. The films were deposited onto glass substrates using the doctor blade technique and annealed at various temperatures. Characterization was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–Vis spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of TiO₂, MgO, and MgTiO₃ phases, with a notable decrease in crystallite size as Mg content increased. The smallest crystallite size of 12.71 nm was obtained at 4 mol% Mg doping. SEM images revealed improved surface morphology and more uniform porosity in doped films. FTIR spectra indicated no significant changes in chemical bonding, while UV–Vis analysis showed a decrease in bandgap energy from 3.8 eV to 3.4 eV with Mg doping. These modifications suggest enhanced dye adsorption and reduced charge recombination, indicating the potential of Mg-doped TiO₂ films to improve DSSC performance. Copyright © 2025 by Authors, Published by BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Keywords: Mg-doped TiO₂; sol–gel method; crystallite size; photoanode; dye-sensitized solar cell

Funding: Séjour Scientifique de Haut Niveau (SSHN)

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In 2025: BCREC Volume 20 Issue 4 Year 2025 (December 2025)

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