TiO2 nanotubes: Structure optimization for solar cells

Abstract

This review starts with a brief introduction to TiO 2 nanotubes (NTs), and then discusses in more detail how to optimize the structure of TiO 2 NTs for the fabrication of highly efficient solar cells, including the controllable fabrication of perfectly aligned TiO 2 NTs, optimizing the tube parameters, strategies of sensitization, improvement of the interface adhesion in polymer/TiO 2 solar cells and how to make devices flexible. Some key challenges and perspectives for future research are also tentatively discussed.

Dye-sensitized solar cells using purified squid ink nanoparticles coated on TiO₂ nanotubes/nanoparticles

“…Furthermore, the electron mobility will be greatly enhanced when the longitudinal direction of the nanotubes are perpendicularly ordered to the substrate. 9) However, this research showed the opposite result. This is because of the use of TiO 2 nanoparticles 85200 nm in diameter, which is similar to the length of the TiO 2 nanotubes (100200 nm), so that the charge transfer pathway seemed to be well developed between TiO 2 nanoparticles rather than nanotubes.…”

“…5) Among oxide semiconductors, 6)8) which have been used in photoelectron chemistry, TiO 2 is preferable for solar energy conversion in DSSCs due to its superior photoelectric conversion efficiency, low-cost, non-toxicity, and high chemical stability. 9) In commercial DSSCs, ruthenium(II) 10) and (III) complexes 11) have been used as efficient photosensitizers because they have wide absorption bands, long lifetimes, and long-term chemical stability, but suffer from the costly use of noble metals, complicated synthetic routes, and low yields. The use of natural extracts as photosensitizers is an attractive alternative to synthetic dyes because of their environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and relative abundance.…”

Photo-assisted electrodeposition of an electrochemically active polypyrrole layer on anatase type titanium dioxide nanotube arrays

“…Among the most used semiconductors, TiO 2 is well known for its low cost, chemical stability, and photoelectric conversion [1].…”

Efficiency Enhancement of Flexible Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Using TiO2 Nanotube/ZnS Nanoparticles Photoanode

“…Among different shapes of titania, TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) have gained a lot of interest in the last decades [3]. In DSSC, the photo-excited electrons of the dye molecules are transferred to TiO 2 conduction band, which is taken out through an external circuit using an anode electrode and a counter electrode in the presence of a liquid or solid redox electrolyte [4].…”