Characterization of N719 Dye Desorption on TiO₂ Nanotube Arrays Used for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract:

In this work, we developed a method to quantitative analyze the absorption and desorption of N719 dye on TiO₂ nanotube arrays. TiO₂ nanotube arrays were fabricated by anodizing titanium foils in an organic electrolyte using a two-electrode configuration with a platinum mesh as the counter electrode. TiO₂ nanotube arrays were then annealed under 450 °Cfor 3 hours and immersed in N719 dye solution for 24 hours. The dye-sensitized TiO₂ nanotube arrays were soaked in an electrolyte solution and stored in a dark closed vessel for 76 days. Then they were desorbed by KOH solution (pH=10). According to UV-visible absorption spectra and Lambert-Beer's law, the desorption rate of N719 dye on 9 µm thick TiO₂ nanotube arrays was calculated to be 36%. The results provide a valuable reference to study the dye desorption and stability of the dye-sensitized solar cells.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 631-632)
• Pages: 524-529
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.631-632.524
• Online since: January 2013
• Authors: Fang Yi Qi, Qi Yu Huang, Fang Jiao, Yi Zhou Zheng, Yu Chou Gan, Jing Xie
• Keywords: Dye Degradation, Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), N719 Dye, TiO₂ Nanotube

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