Publication Type : Journal Article
Thematic Areas : Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine
Publisher : Bulletin of Materials Science
Source : Bulletin of Materials Science, Volume 35, Number 4, p.489-493 (2012)
Keywords : Ammonium compounds, Ammonium fluoride, Anatase phasis, Back illumination, Back-illuminated, Controlled anodization, Conversion efficiency, Dye-Sensitized solar cell, Dye-sensitized solar cells, Ethylene glycol, Nanotube arrays, Nanotube layers, Nanotube lengths, Nanotubes, Photovoltaic property, scanning electron microscopy, Solar cells, TiO, Titanium dioxide, Tube length, Uniform-sized, Vertically aligned, X ray diffraction
Campus : Kochi
School : Center for Nanosciences
Center : Nanosciences
Department : Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine
Year : 2012
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. © Indian Academy of Sciences.