Investigation on the role of cost effective cathode materials for fabrication of efficient DSSCs with TiNT/TiO 2 nanocomposite photoanodes
| Autor: | Shibu Joseph, P. Sagayaraj, D. Muthu Gnana Theresa Nathan, S. Jacob Melvin Boby |
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| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Anatase
Nanotube Materials science Nanocomposite Fabrication Renewable Energy Sustainability and the Environment business.industry Anodizing Nanotechnology 02 engineering and technology 010402 general chemistry 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology 01 natural sciences Isotropic etching Cathode 0104 chemical sciences Surfaces Coatings and Films Electronic Optical and Magnetic Materials law.invention Dye-sensitized solar cell law Optoelectronics 0210 nano-technology business |
| Zdroj: | Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 165:72-81 |
| ISSN: | 0927-0248 |
| Popis: | Free-standing, micrometer long TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TiNTs) were synthesized via anodization by utilizing selected transition metals and non-transition elements as cathode materials. Free-standing TiNTs arrays with the maximum tube length up to 153 µm was fabricated with Ti cathode material, whereas, the cost effective cathodes materials of charcoal and graphite pencil yielded nearly 100 µm long nanotubes for an anodization time of 48 h. The barrier layer was removed from the bottom of the free-standing TiNT arrays using chemical etching process. The as-synthesized open ended free-standing amorphous arrays were then crystallized into anatase phase. The annealed free-standing TiNT array was powdered and mixed with TiO 2 nanoparticles (NP) to form TiNT/TiO 2 NP composite and then utilized as photoanodes to fabricate dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The J-V characteristics and the performances of the solar cells were studied and compared. The results indicate that the TiNT arrays developed with different cathode materials are similar to or in some cases superior to those nanotubes obtained using Pt cathode. Thus, the strategy employed in this work provides a simple, efficient and economical fabrication method for large scale production of TiNT arrays. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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