Formation of Titania Nanotubes and Applications for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells were produced using single-crystalline TiO 2 nanotubes as a thin-film semiconductor because of the very high electron transfer through single-crystalline TiO 2 nanotubes when compared to that through nanoporous TiO 2 films composed of nanoparticles. The dye-sensitized solar cells with single-crystalline TiO 2 nanotubes showed more than double the short-circuit current density than those made of titania nanoparticles Degussa P-25 in the thin-film thickness region. Titania nanotubes were synthesized using molecular assemblies composed of surfactant molecules, i.e., laurylamine hydrochloride, and titanium alkoxide, i.e., tetraisopropylorthotitanate modified with acetylacetone, as a template. They have outer and inner diameters of about 10 and 5 nm, respectively, a length in the range from 30 nm to several hundred nanometers, and have a single-crystalline structure of anatase, as confirmed on lattice images observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The light to electricity conversion of the titania nanotube cells was around 5%. They also showed the highest photocatalytic activity when compared to the commercially available nanocrystalline titania.

Polygonal model for layered inorganic nanotubes

“…WS 2 nanotubes have proven to be effective solid lubricants, 22 display shock-wave resistance 23 and have been used as tips in scanning probe microscopy. 24 TiO 2 nanotubes have been used as hydrogen sensors, 25 dye sensitized solar cells, 26 and have displayed photoluminescence properties. 27 Many inorganic layered nanotubes have shown the ability to intercalate lithium, hydrogen, and magnesium, [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] indicating potential as energy storage materials.…”

Sol-Gel Synthesis and Characterization of TiO2 Nano Films in the Building of Dssc

“…Equation (1) where K (0.94) is the shape factor, λ is the x-ray wavelength, β is the line broadening at half the maximum intensity (FWHM) in radians, and θ is the Bragg angle, D is the mean size of the ordered (crystalline) domains, which may be smaller or equal to the grain size [14][15][16]. (004) and (200) phases respectively.…”

The influence of surface roughness and high pressure torsion on the growth of anodic titania nanotubes on pure titanium

“…Titanium samples in two different grain sizes: UFG titanium prepared by HPT and coarse-grained titanium were used. Since TNTs also have wide applications in other areas such as photocatalytic devices [29], electronics [30], solar cells [31] and sensors [32], a study of the anodization behaviour of UFG titanium may also provide insights relevant for these applications.…”