Synthetic precursor to vertical TiO2 nanowires

An easy protocol for improvement in formation of the photoanode in a dye sensitized solar cell is addressed. Specifically, a novel synthesis for the formation of a TiO2 precursor: titanium butanediolate, is detailed. This precursor is found to have higher thermal and temporal stability than commerci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMaterials research express Vol. 1; no. 2
Main Authors Mishra, B, Ghildiyal, P, Agarkar, S, Khushalani, D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published IOP Publishing 01.06.2014
Subjects
Nanomaterials
Nanowires
TiO
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Summary:An easy protocol for improvement in formation of the photoanode in a dye sensitized solar cell is addressed. Specifically, a novel synthesis for the formation of a TiO2 precursor: titanium butanediolate, is detailed. This precursor is found to have higher thermal and temporal stability than commercially available TiO2 precursors and it has successfully been employed in the one-pot synthesis of rutile nanowires grown directly on a conducting substrate: fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO). This synthesis has been further extended to directly form a mixed phase TiO2 film consisting of rutile nanowires along with anatase spherical particles on FTO and this assembly has been used as the photoanode in a dye-sensitized solar cell. The synergistic effect of the two phases has provided a net DSSC efficiency of 4.61% with FF = 61%.
ISSN:2053-1591
DOI:10.1088/2053-1591/1/2/025005