Effects of Particle Size on Properties of TiO₂ Nanoparticle Thin Films Deposited by Electrophoresis

Abstract:

The absence of cracks and a high optical transparency are critical factors for obtaining high performance when TiO₂ thin films are used as cathodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Synthesized and classified TiO₂ nanoparticles were deposited by constant-current electrophoresis in ethanol. The optical transparency of thin films and the DSSC efficiency increased rapidly with decreasing particle size and increasing film homogeneity. This increase in the DSSC efficiency suggests that the electron conduction path in a thin film consists of connections in the crystal lattice formed between TiO₂ nanoparticles. This formation of connections increases the electron diffusion length.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 566)
• Pages: 199-203
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.566.199
• Online since: July 2013
• Authors: Ryo Kawakami, Takuya Yuasa, Yuuki Sato, Yasushige Mori, Motonari Adachi, Shinzo Yoshikado
• Keywords: Classification Process, Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), Electrophoresis Deposition, Thin Film, TiO₂ Nanoparticle, Transparency

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