Nano-TiO2 for Solar Cells and Photocatalytic Water Splitting: Scientific and Technological Challenges for Commercialization

Abstract

International audienceNanosized titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) particles are used in diverse products and devices, including photocatalytic water splitting and solar cells whose successful commercialization is still facing scientific and technological challenges. Particularly, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have recently attracted a lot of attention. The number of papers and patents published in this area has grown exponentially over the last ten years. However, at the present, commercial devices are of small sizes and produced in limited quantities, thus addressing niche markets. Research efforts have largely focused on the optimization of the dye, but the TiO2 nanocrystalline electrode itself also needs to be optimized. It has been shown that particle size and shape, crystallinity, surface morphology and chemistry of the TiO2 material are key parameters to be controlled for enhanced performance of the cell. This article gives an overview of the state-of-the-art on nano-TiO2 for applications in photocatalytic water splitting and, more specifically, in DSSCs. After a brief analysis of the commercial perspectives of DSSCs and of the remaining challenges for their successful commercialization, our approach to the control of the nano-TiO2 surface chemistry for improvement of the DSSC performance is briefly introduced

Sol–gel synthesis of highly TiO2 aerogel photocatalyst via high temperature supercritical drying

“…In particular, the doublet in 1551 and 1451 cm À1 are assigned to the asymmetric m asym (COO) and symmetric m sym (COO) stretching vibrations of the acetic acid group coordinated to Ti as a bidentate acetate ligands [63]. These results reveal that the acetic acid group may play not only acidic catalyst in the medium, but as chelating agent coordinated to titania surface.…”

Investigation of Optical Properties and Radiation Stability of TiO2 Powders before and after Modification by Nanopowders of Various Oxides

“…They are utilized as effective photocatalyst [1][2][3], pigments of thermal control, and anti-reflective coatings of spacecraft [4,5]. In recent years, the investigations of possibility of their usage as solar photoconverters are conducted [6,7]. But they have found the largest application as household paints [8].…”

Immersion Time and Annealing Temperature Effect on TiO2 Thin Films Deposited by Hydrothermal Method

“…The porosity leads to a comparatively large internal surface area, which is advantageous for many applications where a good accessibility to the film surface becomes necessary. Porous materials as electrode material exhibit good electrochemical performance because these materials have both pores and high surface area which are adapted to the size of ions [12] . The advance of product methods, in which the size, crystalline phase, and shape of the TiO 2 nanocrystals can be controlled, was of importance [13] .…”