Efficiency enhancement of solar cells employing TiO2 as the active material has been successfully done by addition of copper(II) nitrate trihydrate (Cu(NO3)2.3H2O) in the TiO2 dispersant, and post-treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) after electroplating of copper particles at spaces inside the TiO2 film. Homogeneously mix of TiO2 particles in the solution of Cu(NO3)2.3H2O was deposited on a transparent conducting electrode using a spray method. To reduce electron-hole recombination, copper particles were deposited on the space between TiO2 particles by electroplating. A sample of solar cell was made by sandwiching a polymer electrolyte between the film and a counter electrode. Copper(II) nitrate trihydrate of 1.4 wt% and 5 volt electroplating voltage are able to produce an optimum power conversion efficiency of 0.35% with a fill factor of 0.31. To achieve higher efficiency, post treatment with NaOH was performed to increase the ionic transfer ability in electrolyte and we observed efficiency up to 1.24% with a fill factor of 0.34.
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