Research Article Synergistic Enhancement of Dye-Sensitized solar cells with PANi/CZTS nanocomposite counter electrodes Chou-Yi Hsu a,* , Hashim Elshafie b,* , Ekaterina Diakina c,d , A.K. Kareem e , Prakash Kanjariya f , Asha Rajiv g , Ashish Singh h , Pardeep Kumar Jindal i a Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, Tempe Campus, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA b Department of Computer Engineering, College of Computer Science, King Khalid University, Main Campus Al farah Abha 61421, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia c Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Russia d Polytechnic Institute, far eastern federal university, Vladivostok, Russia e Biomedical Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Technologies, Al-Mustaqbal University, Hillah 51001 Babil, Iraq f Marwadi University Research Center, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University, Rajkot 360003 Gujarat, India g Department of Physics & Electronics, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India h Department of Electrical, Electronics & Electric Vehicle Engineering, NIMS Institute of Engineering & Technology, NIMS University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India i Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Chandigarh College of Engineering, Chandigarh Group of Colleges-Jhanjeri, Mohali 140307 Punjab, India A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: PANi CZTS Counter electrode DSSC Nanocomposite ABSTRACT This study investigates the fabrication and application of polyaniline (PANi)/copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanocomposites as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). CZTS and PANi were synthesized using conventional methods, and PANi/CZTS composites were prepared through simultaneous synthesis re- actions. The synthesized materials were drop-cast to fabricate CZTS, PANi, and PANi/CZTS counter electrodes, which were then integrated into DSSCs. Characterization techniques including XRD, FTIR, Raman, FESEM, TEM, and HRTEM were employed to analyze the synthesized samples. Electrochemical properties were studied using EIS, CV, and Tafel analysis. The photovoltaic parameters of the prepared cells revealed enhanced performance for the PANi/CZTS composite compared to CZTS and PANi alone, with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.82%, notably surpassing the PCE of the CZTS (5.82%) and PANi (7.18%) counter electrodes. These results underscore the potential of PANi/CZTS nanocomposites as efficient and cost-effective alternatives in DSSCs. 1. Introduction Polyaniline (PANI) emerges as a compelling material for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), drawing significant attention from researchers in nanotechnology due to its unique electrical conductivity, tunability, and cost-effectiveness [1]. As an organic polymer capable of conducting electricity in doped or oxidized conditions, PANI belongs to the family of conducting polymers and offers versatility in multiple oxidation states, making it well-suited for various energy applications ranging from supercapacitors to DSSCs [2]. Recent studies have explored PANI and its derivatives for their potential in enhancing the efficiency of DSSCs. PANI shows promise as a material for counter electrodes due to its high charge transport and redox properties [3]. Integration of PANI-based materials in DSSCs enhances their overall performance by improving conductivity, stability, and charge transfer kinetics, particularly when combined with materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and metal oxides [4–6]. Despite its potential, PANI faces challenges in DSSC applications, notably in terms of stability, which can lead to a gradual decline in performance over time [7]. Structural changes in PANI during operation may induce mechanical strain and degrade performance. Moreover, PANI’s intrinsic electronic conductivity requires doping for acceptable performance, with the choice of dopant significantly influencing its electrochemical behavior [8]. To address these challenges, current research endeavors are exploring various strategies to enhance the performance of PANI in DSSCs. These include integrating PANI with conductive materials to improve conductivity and structural stability, as well as to minimize ion diffusion distances [9]. Hybrid systems incor- porating PANIs with advanced materials such as metal oxides or sulfides are also being developed to enhance energy storage performance and * Corresponding authors. E-mail addresses: chouyihs@asu.edu (C.-Y. Hsu), helshafie@kku.edu.sa (H. Elshafie). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Inorganic Chemistry Communications journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/inoche https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2025.114635 Received 11 March 2025; Received in revised form 19 April 2025; Accepted 30 April 2025 Inorganic Chemistry Communications 178 (2025) 114635 Available online 1 May 2025 1387-7003/© 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.