Methods of making non-covalently bonded carbon-titania nanocomposite thin films and applications of the same

Patent · Tue Dec 07 04:00:00 EST 2021

OSTI ID:1860148

Liang, Yu Teng; Vijayan, Baiju K.; Gray, Kimberly A.; Hersam, Mark C.

In one aspect of the invention, a dye sensitized solar cell has a counter-electrode including carbon-titania nanocomposite thin films made by forming a carbon-based ink; forming a titania (TiO₂) solution; blade-coating a mechanical mixture of the carbon-based ink and the titania solution onto a substrate; and annealing the blade-coated substrate at a first temperature for a first period of time to obtain the carbon-based titania nanocomposite thin films. In certain embodiments, the carbon-based titania nanocomposite thin films may include solvent-exfoliated graphene titania (SEG-TiO₂) nanocomposite thin films, or single walled carbon nanotube titania (SWCNT-TiO₂) nanocomposite thin films.

• Research Organization: Northwest University, Evanston, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-03ER15457
• Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (Evanston, IL)
• Patent Number(s): 11,195,667
• Application Number: 15/181,802
• OSTI ID: 1860148
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English