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We propose a solar cell design using the combination of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and graphite as active photon absorbing materials. TiO 2 absorbs photons of nearly ultraviolet wavelengths to produce electron-hole pairs, while graphite is expected to absorb photons of longer wavelengths. Although many authors have claimed that graphite is a semimetal, we observed that a model of a solar cell containing TiO 2 only as the active material behaves exactly the same as a model containing graphite only as the active material. Additionally, we observed that a model of a solar cell made using a composite of TiO 2 and graphite as the active material had much higher efficiency than solar cells made using TiO 2 -or graphite-only active materials. Although the highest efficiency we report here is approximately 1 %, our proposed solar cell structure is promising for mass application, especially in low-income settings, owing to its easy and flexible fabrication, and easy largescale application.

We described a novel system for applying titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles on the surface of transparent plastic fibers and the use of the coated fibers as photocatalysts to decompose organic pollutants in water. We examined several coating parameters to identify the optimum conditions and used the coated fibers to decompose organic pollutants in simulated waste solutions. The coated fibers were scattered on the water surface and the catalytic reaction proceeded during several days of exposure to sunlight. After completion the decomposition process, the coated fibers were easily recovered using a filter. A simple model is also presented to explain the experimental findings. This method is useful for purifying contaminated water under solar illumination and requires very little energy input. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 42–51, 2013.

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