Hybrid Structure of TiO₂ Nanofiber and Nanoparticle for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract:

Hybrid structure of TiO₂ nanofiber and nanoparticle as a photoelectrode was very attractive in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) because TiO₂ nanoparticle provided a high specific surface area to adsorb the N719 dye and TiO₂ nanofiber was a direct path to transfer photoelectron from dye to electrode. TiO₂ nanofiber film was prepared with titanium-tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) based precursor by electro-spinning process. To fabricate the hybrid structure, TiO₂ nanoparticular paste was screen printed on the TiO₂ nanofiber film. Electrospun TiO₂ nanofiber film and screen printed TiO₂ nanoparticular film were combined in layer by layer method. These films were observed as an anatase phase by X-ray diffraction pattern. Thickness and diameter of TiO₂ nanofibers were ~5μm and ~400nm, respectively. Thickness and particle size of TiO₂ particles were ~5μm and ~20nm, respectively. Compared to conventional DSCs, higher short circuit current densities (Jsc) of 6.47 mA/cm² and higher power conversion efficiency of 3.06 % were measured in DSCs having hybrid structure of TiO₂ nanofiber and nanoparticle. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was observed to understand an electron transfer and life time.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 922)
• Pages: 67-70
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.922.67
• Online since: May 2014
• Authors: Ji Sun Kim, Seong Cheol Shim, Tae Hwan Hwang, Won Youl Choi*
• Keywords: Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell, TiO₂ Nanofiber, TiO₂ Nanoparticle

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