In this study, as cost effective and an environmentally friendly lm deposition technology, Atmospheric Solution Precursor Plasma Spray (ASPPS) was utilized for the deposition of the photo-catalytic titanium oxide (TiO 2) lm for the fabrication process of photovoltaic devices for rural electri cation in developing countries. In addition, ethanol-diluted titanium tetra-iso-butoxide (TTIB: Ti(OC 4 H 9) 4) was used as a feedstock. N 2-dominant Ar/N 2 was also utilized as plasma working gas as well as for the elevation of the thermal plasma energy. By controlling deposition distances and temperature, using vortex generation anode nozzle operated at 1 kW, photo-catalytic TiO 2 lm was deposited and its crystallinity was con rmed by X-ray diffraction. Besides, the photo-catalytic properties of the lm were con rmed by the methylene blue decolorization and the surface wettability tests. Surface morphologies of the TiO 2 lm was evaluated using optical micrographs. Furthermore, the lm thickness and strength were measured using micro screw gauge and pencil scratch tester respectively. Lastly, when this Photo-catalytic TiO 2 lm was applied to photovoltaic devices, the device generated an open circuit voltage of 146.7 mV with solar irradiance intensity of 574 W/m 2. From these results it was con rmed that, the ASPPS technology equipped with high cooling ef ciency vortex anode nozzle is available for deposition of TiO 2 lm for the fabrication process of low-cost photovoltaic devices for rural areas in developing countries.

No abstract