Efficient charge transport in surface engineered TiO2 nanoparticulate photoanodes leading to improved performance in quantum dot sensitized solar cells

•Cold Argon Plasma treatment on TiO2 nanoparticle photoanodes were performed.•The efficiency of CdSeS quantum dot sensitized solar cells increased ∼40% reaching 5.01%.•This was attributed to significant improvement in surface conductivity reducing the interfacial recombination.