Effect of TiO2 nanotube length and lateral tubular spacing on photovoltaic properties of back illuminated dye sensitized solar cell

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to show the effect of TiO 2 nanotube length, diameter and intertubular lateral spacings on the performance of back illuminated dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The present study shows that processing short TiO 2 nanotubes with good lateral spacings could significantly improve the performance of back illuminated DSSCs. Vertically aligned, uniform sized diameter TiO 2 nanotube arrays of different tube lengths have been fabricated on Ti plates by a controlled anodization technique at different times of 24, 36, 48 and 72 h using ethylene glycol and ammonium fluoride as an electrolyte medium. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed formation of nanotube arrays spread uniformly over a large area. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of TiO 2 nanotube layer revealed the presence of crystalline anatase phases. By employing the TiO 2 nanotube array anodized at 24 h showing a diameter ∼80 nm and length ∼1•5 μm as the photo-anode for back illuminated DSSCs, a full-sun conversion efficiency (η) of 3•5 % was achieved, the highest value reported for this length of nanotubes.

Molybdenum trioxide thin film recombination barrier layers for dye sensitized solar cells

“…13 Different nanostructures of TiO 2 , including nanotubes, nanowires, nanobers and nanoparticles, are widely employed as electron transport layer due to their own optical and electrical advantages. [14][15][16][17] Large surface area of the electron transport layers are highly preferred in excitonic solar cells to adsorb more photo-sensitizing materials such as organic dyes and quantum dots. 18,19 TiO 2 lm thickness, sizes of particles and pores present in the lm are a few important material properties that determine the performance of DSSCs.…”

Effects of various applied voltages on physical properties of TiO2 nanotubes by anodization method

“…TiO 2 nanoparticles were used in dye-sensitized solar cells as photoanode in 1991 by O'Regan and Gratzel [14]. Different approaches were suggested so far to improve dye cells efficiency like replacing TiO 2 nanoparticles with nanotubes since one dimensional TiO 2 nanotube arrays provide direct path for electrons and improves the electron transport velocity and also cause reduction of the charge recombination [18,19]. TiO 2 nanotubes have been prepared by various methods such as sol-gel [20][21][22], liquid-phase deposition [23], hydrothermal [24][25][26] and electrochemical anodization processes [27,28].…”

Rose bengal-sensitized nanocrystalline ceria photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell application

“…Metal oxides such as ZnO [4][5][6][7], Nb 2 O 5 [8,9], CeO 2 [10] and SnO 2 [11,12] have also been used as alternative photoanode with spherical morphologies in DSSCs. Nair et al [13] studied the effect of TiO 2 nanotube length and lateral tubular spacing on photovoltaic properties of back illuminated DSSCs. Cyriac et al [14] developed a new type of solid-state absorber material for DSSCs.…”