TiO{sub 2} nanorods branched on fast-synthesized large clearance TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays for dye-sensitized solar cells

A large clearance TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (LTAs) has been synthesized by a not more than 12 h anodization duration and based on this a branched TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (BLTs) has been achieved through TiO{sub 2} nanorods branch-like grown on the LTAs. Some key factors and probable mechanisms o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of solid state chemistry Vol. 184; no. 11
Main Authors Hu Anzheng, Li Haina, Jia Zhiyong, Xia Zhengcai
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 15.11.2011
Subjects
ABSORPTION
ANODES
ANODIZATION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COATING
CLEARANCE
CORROSION PROTECTION
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DYES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROCHEMICAL COATING
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
LYSIS
MODIFICATIONS
MORPHOLOGY
NANOSTRUCTURES
NANOTUBES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOANODES
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SIMULATION
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SORPTION
SURFACE COATING
SYNTHESIS
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
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Summary:A large clearance TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (LTAs) has been synthesized by a not more than 12 h anodization duration and based on this a branched TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (BLTs) has been achieved through TiO{sub 2} nanorods branch-like grown on the LTAs. Some key factors and probable mechanisms of the fabrication processes on two novel nanoarchitectures are discussed. Exhilaratingly, it is found that the obtained LTAs has demonstrated large pore diameter and void spaces (pore diameter {approx}350 nm; void spaces {approx}160 nm; and tube length {approx}3.5 {mu}m), and the synthesized hierarchical BLTs, compared with conventional TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays, has shown a much stronger dye absorption performance and an approximately double of the solar cell efficiency (in our case from 1.62% to 3.18% under simulated AM 1.5 conditions). - Graphical Abstract: The schematic diagram of synthesis process for LTAs and BLTs is on the above and the corresponding FESEM images of obtained photoanodes samples are shown below. Highlights: > Large clearance TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (LTAs) was synthesized by a fast anodization process of 12 h. > Anodization time of 12 h is just 10% of about 120 h reported in the previous references. > Branch-like TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (BLTs) was achieved by growing TiO{sub 2} nanorods on the LTAs. > Obtained BLTs and LTAs show impressive morphology and noticeable improvement of surface area. > BLTs shows about more than 1 times higher solar cell efficiency than that of TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays.
ISSN:0022-4596
1095-726X