Preparation of Nanosize Anatase TiO₂ by a Simple, Low-Cost Method and their Performance in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract:

The critical material of photo-anode, the TiO₂ nano-particles, as the most important component in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was studied in this paper. The TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared by the method of micro-emulsion. In the process of preparation, the factors including the kinds of surfactant, and the molar ratio of water to titanium (R value) were investigated. Finally, the optimal condition for the preparation of the TiO₂ nano-particles was determined. When Tx-100 was used as the surfactant and R was 35, the TiO₂ nano-particles were prepared and used as photo-anode in the DSSCs, which were sensitized by N719, test under AM1.5G sunlight. The highest photoelectric conversion efficiency was achieved: Short-circuit photocurrent (Isc) =13.91mA/cm², open-circuit photo voltage (Voc) =0.83V, fill factor (FF) =55.06%, photoelectric conversion efficiency (η) =6.36%.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 415-417)
• Pages: 1764-1768
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.415-417.1764
• Online since: December 2011
• Authors: Lin Liu, Xiao Peng, Xiang Mei Yu, Ya Qing Feng
• Keywords: Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), Micro-Emulsion, Photoelectric Property, Surfactant, TiO₂

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