Performance enhancement of NiTsPc based photo sensor using treated TiO2 NPs film

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 16; no. 11; p. 1
• Main Authors: Qadir, Karwan Wasman, Ahmad, Zubair, Sulaiman, Khaulah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; General equipment and techniques; Inorganic Chemistry; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Lasers; Materials Science; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nickel; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Research Paper; Sensors; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Sodium hydroxide; Titanium dioxide; Metrology; Environmental sensor; TiO; Organic photo sensor; NPs, NiTsPc; Eco-friendly; NiTsPc; Photocurrents; Thin films; NPs; Aqueous solutions; Platinum; Electrolytes; Nickel; Sensors; Photoconductivity; Phthalocyanines; Nanomaterial synthesis
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-014-2705-7

We report the dye-sensitized photo sensors fabricated by utilizing a water soluble organic photo sensitizer, Nickel (II) phthalocyanine-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt (NiTsPc). To fabricate the sensors, two different types of TiO 2 films (untreated and NaOH treated) have been prepared to serve as anodes. Both the TiO 2 films were subsequently sensitized by the NiTsPc aqueous solution. Commercially available, Iodolyte Z100 has been used as an electrolyte, whereas platinum-coated ITO has been used as a cathode. The NaOH-treated sensor showed 2.81 times increase in photo-conductivity sensitivity as compared to the untreated sensor. Both sensors showed a fairly good and rapid response. The NaOH-treated sensor, however, surpassed the other sensor in terms of response/recovery times and stability in plateau values of the photocurrent. The proposed photo sensors are eco-friendly and economical to manufacture as well.