Multiwalled carbon nanotube-titania nanocomposites: Understanding nano-structural parameters and functionality in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Nanocomposites consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and titania were synthesized by two methods, namely, sol-gel and chemical vapour deposition (CVD) methods. The work takes advantage of the bridging ability of nanotechnology between macromolecules and the solid state process in engineering alternative nanomaterials for various applications including solar cell fabrication. Physical and chemical characterization of the mesoporous nanocomposites from the two synthetic methods were investigated using Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, surface characterization and X-ray diffraction analysis. Physicochemical properties in the nanocomposites such as thermal stability, pore volume, crystallinity and surface area were observed to be a subject of MWCNT: titania ratios and synthetic methods. From the CVD synthetic method, observed attributes include more uniform and smoother coating; better crystallinity and larger pore width than sol-gel method. On the other hand, nanocomposites from sol-gel synthetic method had larger surface areas, were more defective and less thermally stable than those from CVD. Nanocomposites by the CVD method performed 39.2 % more efficient than those from sol-gel in light-harvesting experiments. The study shows that the nanocomposites synthesized were more effective than titania alone when the cheaper natural dye, Eosin B, was used. This highlights the great potential of typical nanomaterials in improving the performances of titania in DSSCs as well as lowering the cost of the ultimate devices.

Poly(ɛ‐caprolactone)/Functionalized‐Carbon Nanotube Electrospun Nanocomposites: Crystallization and Thermal Properties

“…The peaks in the range of 1100–1150 cm −1 , 1000–1100 cm −1 , 900–1000 cm −1 , 500–900 cm −1 , is due to OCO stretching, CC stretching, COC symmetric stretching and −CH 2 rocking, respectively . The peak observed at 2328.4 cm −1 and 2343 cm −1 indicates the presence of H‐bonding of −COOH group, confirms the functionalization of CNT and H‐bonded interaction between PCL and f‐CNT. This interaction may reduce the agglomeration of nanofillers and improves the properties of the polymer matrix.…”

A Platelet Graphitic Nanofiber‐Carbon Nanotube Hybrid for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

“…The peak around 1558 cm −1 is attributed to the sp 2 hybridized graphitic structure of CNTs . The peak at ∼1630 cm −1 corresponds to C=O, C−O and O=C−O and the peak at ∼2356 cm −1 is assigned to O=C−O functional groups, while the peak at ∼1140 cm −1 is attributed to C−O, and the peak at around 3440 cm −1 is associated with ‐OH stretching . Moreover, two peaks at ∼1450 cm −1 and 618 cm −1 attributed to CH bending vibrations in alkanes and alkynes are also detected.…”

Preparation and Characterization of Hybrid Nanocomposites for Dental Applications

“…Both pristine HNTs and modified HNTs showed strong peaks at 3697 and 3615 cm −1 , respectively, which correspond to the stretching vibration of Al-OH groups in the inner surface; at 1028 and 909 cm −1 , peaks corresponded to Si-O stretching and Al-OH bending vibrations, respectively [57]. Meanwhile, minor peaks at 2932, 2359, 1680, and 1540 cm −1 , corresponding to C-H stretching vibration, carbonyl group [58], hydrogen bonding of COOH groups [59], N-H bending vibration [60], and C-N stretching vibration [61], respectively, could be seen in the gelatin-modified HNTs spectrum rather than in the spectrum of pristine HNTs.…”