Fabrication and Characterization of TiO₂ Nanotubes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract:

TiO₂ nanotubes were successfully synthesized by anodization method of Ti foils. The electrolyte was composed of ethylene glycol (EG), ammonium fluoride (0.3%wt NH₄F) and de-ionized water (2% vol H₂O). A constant DC power supply of 50 V was used during anodization with anodizing times of 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours and 6 hours. The samples were annealed at 450 °C for 2 hours. The TiO₂ nanotubes were studied by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Structural analysis revealed the presence of pure Ti, and the crystalline anatase phase due to transformation of amorphous TiO₂ after annealing. The morphology of TiO₂ nanotube sizes showed an increase in tube diameter with anodizing time from approximately 50 nm to 200 nm. However, the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells increased with anodizing times up to a maximum of 5.74 % for anodizing time of 4 hours.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1131)
• Pages: 215-220
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1131.215
• Online since: December 2015
• Authors: Emmanuel Nyambod Timah*, Buagun Samran, Udom Tipparach
• Keywords: Anodization, Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell, Energy Conversion, TiO₂ Nanotube

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