Fabrication and Characterization of Titania (TiO2) Nanotube Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Anodization Method

Titania (TiO₂) nanotubes were synthesized on Ti metal sheets by anodization method. The anodization condition was the variation of the anodization voltage. The nanotubes were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-vis Spectrometer. The nanotubes can be used to make working electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. The pore diameter of TiO₂ nanotube increases with the higher anodization voltage. The TiO₂ nanotube diameters prepared at applied voltages of 40, 50, 60 and 70 V were approximately 200, 170, 140 and 100 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the dye-sensitized solar cells device based on the N719 dye and electrolytes shows the photovoltaic performance at different voltages of 40, 50, 60 and 70 V were 4.21%, 4.77%, 6.10% and 6.89%, respectively, under irradiation of 60 mW/cm². The energy conversion efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cells increased with increasing pore diameter of titania nanotubes.