I am having a little confusion regarding the use of a semiconductor (S.C) as an photoelectrode material. Based on my understanding, S.C. performs two jobs as an photoanode material.

1. Help in exciton dissociation

2. Serves as a scaffold for dye particles.

Now the questions is, if we use metal nanoparticles instead of S.C, will it still work in the device? As the absorption is performed by dye molecules and metals are the best carriers of charge particles so supposedly it should act as more suitable photoanode material, a carrier without recombination.