TiO{sub 2} nanorods branched on fast-synthesized large clearance TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays for dye-sensitized solar cells

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

OSTI ID:21580059

Haina, Li ^[1]; Zhiyong, Jia ^[2]

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1. Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)
2. School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Xiangfan University, Xiangfan 441053, Hubei (China)

A large clearance TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (LTAs) has been synthesized by a not more than 12 h anodization duration and based on this a branched TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (BLTs) has been achieved through TiO{sub 2} nanorods branch-like grown on the LTAs. Some key factors and probable mechanisms of the fabrication processes on two novel nanoarchitectures are discussed. Exhilaratingly, it is found that the obtained LTAs has demonstrated large pore diameter and void spaces (pore diameter {approx}350 nm; void spaces {approx}160 nm; and tube length {approx}3.5 {mu}m), and the synthesized hierarchical BLTs, compared with conventional TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays, has shown a much stronger dye absorption performance and an approximately double of the solar cell efficiency (in our case from 1.62% to 3.18% under simulated AM 1.5 conditions). - Graphical Abstract: The schematic diagram of synthesis process for LTAs and BLTs is on the above and the corresponding FESEM images of obtained photoanodes samples are shown below. Highlights: > Large clearance TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (LTAs) was synthesized by a fast anodization process of 12 h. > Anodization time of 12 h is just 10% of about 120 h reported in the previous references. > Branch-like TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (BLTs) was achieved by growing TiO{sub 2} nanorods on the LTAs. > Obtained BLTs and LTAs show impressive morphology and noticeable improvement of surface area. > BLTs shows about more than 1 times higher solar cell efficiency than that of TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays.

• OSTI ID: 21580059
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 184, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2011.09.005; PII: S0022-4596(11)00487-7; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ABSORPTION
ANODIZATION
CLEARANCE
DYES
EFFICIENCY
MODIFICATIONS
MORPHOLOGY
NANOTUBES
PHOTOANODES
SIMULATION
SOLAR CELLS
SYNTHESIS
TITANIUM OXIDES
ANODES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COATING
CORROSION PROTECTION
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL COATING
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
EQUIPMENT
LYSIS
NANOSTRUCTURES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SORPTION
SURFACE COATING
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS