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Synthesis of micrometer-sized hierarchical rutile TiO2 flowers and their application in dye sensitized solar cells

Publication Type : Journal Article

Thematic Areas : Advanced Materials and Green Technologies

Publisher : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Advances

Source : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Advances, Royal Society of Chemistry, Volume 4, Number 69, p.36791–36799 (2014)

Url : http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-84906665684&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=Synthesis+of+micrometer-sized+hierarchical+rutile+TiO+2+flowers+and+their+application+in+dye+sensitized+solar+cells&sid=75099A23CA6BA4EC63B4A3F31DC0D56

Keywords : Conductive substrates, Dye sensitized solar cell, Dye-sensitized solar cells, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Fast electron transfer, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, High resolution transmission electron microscopy, Hydrothermal routes, Interfacial charge transfer, Nanorods, Oxide minerals, Photovoltaic performance, Power conversion efficiencies, scanning electron microscopy, Solar cells, Titanium dioxide, X ray powder diffraction

Campus : Coimbatore

School : School of Engineering

Center : Center for Excellence in Advanced Materials and Green Technologies

Department : Chemical, Civil, Computer Science

Verified : Yes

Year : 2014

Abstract : Cactus-like hierarchical rutile TiO2 flowers and three dimensional (3D) highly branched rutile TiO2 nanorods with sizes measuring up to 5 microns were synthesized on conductive substrates by a facile hydrothermal route without the presence of a surfactant or template. These samples with different morphologies and microstructures were studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). We also studied the photovoltaic performances of these samples by using them as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The highly branched TiO2 nanorod based photoanode in DSSCs showed a power conversion efficiency of 3.07% which was significantly higher than that of the cactus TiO2 flower based (2.66%) photoanode. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis of the interfacial charge transfer kinetics in these photoanodes in DSSCs showed higher recombination resistance (R2) and longer electron lifetime in highly branched nanorods. The enhancement of the efficiency of the highly branched TiO2 nanorod photoanode based DSSC compared to that of cactus TiO2 flower DSSC is mainly attributed to the superior light scattering capability, fast electron transfer and longer electron lifetime with suppressed recombination.

Cite this Research Publication : M. Raj Subramaniam, Dr. Sriram Devanathan, and Dr. Duraisamy Kumaresan, “Synthesis of micrometer-sized hierarchical rutile TiO2 flowers and their application in dye sensitized solar cells”, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Advances, vol. 4, pp. 36791–36799, 2014.

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