Effect of Au nano-particles on TiO2 nanorod electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

a b s t r a c tAu nano particles (NPs) were deposited on vertically grown TiO 2 nanorod arrays on FTO substrate by hydrothermal process. Metal nanoparticles were loaded onto the surface of TiO 2 nanorods via photochemical reduction process under ultraviolet irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis were used to characterize the as-prepared Au/TiO 2 nanorod composites. Current density-voltage (J-V) measurements were obtained from a two-electrode sandwich type cell. The presence of Au nanoparticles can help the electron-hole separation by attracting photoelectrons. Addition of Au nanoparticles to the TiO 2 nanorod significantly increased the fill factor and J SC (short circuit current density). The application of Au NPs TiO 2 nanorods in improving the performance of DSSCs is promising.

Au-Loaded Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Modified Sol-Gel/Impregnation Methods and Their Application to Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…The open circuit voltage ( oc ) is almost constant value with Au-loading amount. This indicates that the Au-loading to TiO 2 does not affect the Fermi level because the oc is originated from the energy difference between Fermi level of TiO 2 layer and the oxidation/reduction potential of the electrolyte [44]. The results show that the short-circuit current densities ( sc ) of the fabricated DSSCs with TiO 2 , 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mol% Au-loaded TiO 2 nanoparticles were 10.04, 12.48, 13.06, 8.27, and 7.02 mA/cm 2 , corresponding to the efficiency ( ) of 4.34, 5.40, 5.52, 4.13, and 3.33%, respectively.…”

Facile synthesis of Au@TiO2 nanocomposite and its application as a photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells

“…Nevertheless, the addition of Au nanoparticles will lead to the slight decrease of the open circuit voltage (V oc ). 14,[18][19][20][21][22] The conversion efficiency achieved by Au@TiO 2 nanocomposite photoanode is greatly depend on the synthesis and fabrication technique used. Therefore, the gap between the Fermi level of Au@TiO 2 and the Nernst potential of the I À /I 3 À redox is smaller compared to pure TiO 2 .…”

“…The efficiency achieved was 6.7% aer introduction of Au and TiCl 4 treatment compared with 0.69% for pure TiO 2 electrode. Au-TiO 2 nanorod was also prepared and used as photoanode by Ghaffari et al 21 The photoanode was prepared by immersing the electrospinning prepared TiO 2 lm into the Ag and Au precursor and followed by the reduction of the metal through the UV photoreduction. The gold nanoparticles were rst prepared and reduced using ascorbic acid before added in the acid treated P25 powder.…”

Enhanced efficiency in flexible dye-sensitized solar cells by a novel bilayer photoanode made of carbon nanotubes incorporated TiO 2 nanorods and branched TiO 2 nanotubes

“…Recently, 1D TiO 2 nanomaterials such as nanowires (NWs), nanorods (NRs), and nanotubes (NTs) have been investigated as photoanodic materials in FDSSCs [8][9][10][11]. Besides, modification of 1D TiO 2 nanometarials by carbon nanomaterials [12] or noble metal NPs [13] incorporation, surface treatment [14], and coating treatment [15], can further improve performance of DSSCs.…”