Application of TiO2 nano-particles on the electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells

作者：Meen T H^*; Water W; Chen W R; Chao S M; Ji L W; Huang C J

来源：Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 2009, 70(2): 472-476.

DOI：10.1016/j.jpcs.2008.12.002

• Nanostructures
• Optical materials
• Sol-gel growth

In this study, nano-TiO2 thin film electrode and solar cell have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra, contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and current-voltage characteristics analyses. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the best sintering temperature of a nano-TiO2 film is 600 degrees C, at which TiO2 anatase phase forms best and the particle size of 8-10 nm can be obtained. The SEM images of a nano-TiO2 thin film show that the surface of the film is smooth and porous, and the thickness of the nano-TiO2 film is 4 gm. The measurements of contact angle between nano-TiO2 film and deionized water (DI water) reveal that the nano-TiO2 film is super-hydrophilic when solarized under ultraviolet. The electrode of dye-sensitized solar cell is used as a free-base porphyrin with carboxyl group, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) as the sensitizer to adsorb onto the TiO2 m. From the results of ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and XPS analyses of the electrode, the effects of nano-TiO2 particles' addition to the electrode of dye-sensitized solar cell can improve the absorption of visible light (400-700 nm) and increase electrons transferred from TCPP to the conduction band of TiO2, resulting in the enhancement of efficiency for dye-sensitized solar cells.

• 出版日期2009-2