TiO2 Nanotube Based Dye-sensitized Photoanode

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1077.2013.12368

Abstract

Abstract:

A front-illuminated TiO₂ nanotube-based dye-sensitized solar-cell (DSC) was presented. Highly ordered TiO₂ nanotube membranes were fabricated by two-step anodic oxidation of Ti foil, and then they were transferred to fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrates to produce a special kind of photoanode. A series of comparison were made between DSCs with different length of nanotubes. Front-illuminated DSC with 32.8 μm nanotube membrane showed an efficiency of 4.15% with TiCl₄ treatment. The crystal phase evolution of the TiO₂ nanotubes was researched using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Electrochemical Impedance Spectra (EIS) results indicated that the electron transportation efficiency had a strong dependence on the thickness of photoanode, and interfacial resistances decreased with the increasing of nanotubes length. These results could help us to understand the mechanism of the electron transportation and further improve the photoanode of DSCs.

Key words: two-step anodization, TiO₂ nanotubes, front illumination, dye-sensitized solar cells

CLC Number:

TM914

LUO Hua-Ming, LIU Zhi-Yong, BAI Chuan-Yi, LU Yu-Ming, CAI Chuan-Bing. TiO₂ Nanotube Based Dye-sensitized Photoanode[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2013, 28(5): 521-526.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 SEM images of TiO2 nanotubes prepared for different anodic oxidation time

Fig. 2 Detached TiO2 nanotubes with different thicknesses

Fig. 3 XRD patterns of (a) Ti foil, (b, c) unannealed and 500℃annealed TiO2 nanotube on Ti foil, (d) detached TiO2 nanotubes and (e) TiO2 nanotubes on FTO substrate

Fig. 4 SEM image of the electrode combined TiO2 nanotubes with nanoparticles

Fig. 5 The I-V curves of dye-sensitized solar cells

Table 1 Photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cells

Sample	R_ct/Ω	J_sc/(mA∙cm^-2)	V_oc/V	η/%	FF/%
dsc-NP	89.4	4.50	0.643	2.02	69.8
dsc-16.8 μm	78.5	4.01	0.639	1.81	70.7
dsc-21.6 μm	75.3	4.69	0.608	1.99	69.7
dsc-32.8 μm	32.7	5.08	0.609	2.09	67.6
dsc-32.8-treated	57.8	9.19	0.698	4.15	64.5

Fig. 6 Electrochemical impedance spectra of dye-sensitized solar cells with different structures

References 20

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TiO₂ Nanotube Based Dye-sensitized Photoanode

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