TiO₂ Nanorods Prepared from Anodic Aluminum Oxide Template and their Applications in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) was used as a template coupled with liquid process for synthesis of TiO 2 nanorods. Immersion setting (IS) was carried out to insert a TiO 2 precursor solution into AAO pore. With the calcination and NaOH treatment to remove AAO, SEM characterization revealed that TiO 2 nanorods with diameter around 100-200 nm were successfully fabricated from AAO commercial templates. The synthesized nanorods mixed with commercial TiO 2 nanoparticles (P-25) with a mixing ratio of 5:95 (by mass) were used as an electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), The photoelectrodes made with nanorods showed a better performance than the cells used of only pristine TiO 2 nanoparticles. The results from current density-voltage (J-V) characteristics of DSSCs showed that short-circuit current density (J SC ), open-circuit voltage (V OC ), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) are 11.78 mA/cm 2 , 0.72 V, 0.55, and 4.68%, respectively. Due to the effects of one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructure, the electron expressway concept was achieved in this research.

TiO₂ nanorods and semi-nanotubes prepared from anodic aluminum oxide template and their applications as photoelectrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

“…14) In that work, 14) we used immersion setting (IS) 10) to synthesize TiO 2 nanorods and applied in DSSC. The magnetic stirrer was used to mix a paste for photoelectrode of DSSC, which resulted in the agglomeration of nanostructures.…”

“…The magnetic stirrer was used to mix a paste for photoelectrode of DSSC, which resulted in the agglomeration of nanostructures. Since many cracks on the surface were observed when coated only one time, 14) the improvement of efficiency was limited.…”