Alumina Template Assistance in Titania Nanotubes Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell ( NT-DSSC) Device Fabrication

Abstract

In our previous works, we have made alumina template films and used it for nanowire, nanowhisk, and nanosphere fabrication and molecular aggregation studies. In the present paper, we have combined Al 2 O 3 template and titania (TiO 2 ) NT fabrication processes to achieve an Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 NT dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices. The DSSC structure includes glass substrate, transparent conductive film of ITO, Pt particles serving as the counter electrode, Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 NT film, dye, and ITO serving as the working electrode, and the electrolyte is injected into the counter-working interface. Al 2 O 3 template was made by anodization and TiO 2 NT was made by sol-gel deposition into Al 2 O 3 template. Al 2 O 3 template has a light, transparence, large surface, good mechanical strength, and flexibility, making it a candidate material for DSSC electrode template. TiO 2 NT is a semiconductor with an energy gap that matches up very nicely with N3 sensitized dye.

Critical parameters and factors in the formation of spaced TiO2 nanotubes by self-organizing anodization

“…The different thickening of the barrier layer leads to an uneven field distribution that causes non-uniform dissolution rates, e.g., a thicker oxide leads to slower ion migration and thinner oxide induces faster migration [43,46,66]. This illustrates the fact that the pore bottom of small-diameter NTs is thinned down sufficiently to continue growth under lower field conditions, in line with literature [6,67].…”