Front-side illuminated CdS/CdSe quantum dots co-sensitized solar cells based on TiO₂ nanotube arrays

We fabricated a front-side illuminated CdS/CdSe quantum dots co-sensitized solar cell based on TiO(2) nanotube arrays. The freestanding TiO(2) nanotube arrays were first detached from anodic oxidized Ti foils and then transferred to the fluorine-doped tin oxide to form photoanodes. An opaque Cu(2)S with high electrochemical activity was used as the counter electrode. A photovoltaic conversion efficiency as high as 3.01% under one sun illumination has been achieved after optimizing the deposition time of CdSe quantum dots and the length of the TiO(2) nanotube arrays. It is observed that the power conversion efficiency of quantum dots sensitized solar cells from the front-side illumination mode (3.01%) is much higher than that of the back-side illumination mode (1.32%) owing to the poor catalytic activity of Pt to polysulfide electrolytes and light absorption by the electrolytes for the latter.     

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes as a new counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Airbrushed multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) networks were investigated as a new counter electrode for dye-sensitized TiO2 photoelectrochemical solar cells. The structural and physical properties of the MWNTs were studied by various techniques including SEM, TEM, Raman, optical absorption, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The MWNTs exhibited catalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide in the electrolyte as studied by EIS measurements. The performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells was improved by using MWNTs as counter electrodes. This observation is explained by the significantly increased contact area between the MWNT counter electrode and the electrolyte which facilitates efficient charge transportation in the solar cell. We demonstrated that the MWNTs are suitable for replacing expensive Pt electrodes for fabricating high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. The process used in this study is also technically attractive for large scale and economic production.     

High efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells based on hierarchically structured nanotubes

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on hierarchically structured TiO(2) nanotubes prepared by a facile combination of two-step electrochemical anodization with a hydrothermal process exhibited remarkable performance. Vertically oriented, smooth TiO(2) nanotube arrays fabricated by a two-step anodic oxidation were subjected to hydrothermal treatment, thereby creating advantageous roughness on the TiO(2) nanotube surface (i.e., forming hierarchically structured nanotube arrays-nanoscopic tubes composed of a large number of nanoparticles on the surface) that led to an increased dye loading. Subsequently, these nanotubes were exploited to produce DSSCs in a backside illumination mode, yielding a significantly high power conversion efficiency, of 7.12%, which was further increased to 7.75% upon exposure to O(2) plasma.     

Single wall carbon nanotube scaffolds for photoelectrochemical solar cells. Capture and transport of photogenerated electrons

Single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) architecture when employed as conducting scaffolds in a TiO2 semiconductor based photoelectrochemical cell can boost the photoconversion efficiency by a factor of 2. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were dispersed on SWCNT films to improve photoinduced charge separation and transport of carriers to the collecting electrode surface. The shift of approximately 100 mV in apparent Fermi level of the SWCNT-TiO2 system as compared to the unsupported TiO2 system indicates the Fermi level equilibration between the two systems. The interplay between the TiO2 and SWCNT of attaining charge equilibration is an important factor for improving photoelectrochemical performance of nanostructured semiconductor based solar cells. The feasibility of employing a SWCNT-TiO2 composite to drive the water photoelectrolysis reaction has also been explored.     

Electro-oxidation of methanol on TiO2 nanotube supported platinum electrodes

TiO2 nanotubes have been synthesized using anodic alumina membrane as template. Highly dispersed platinum nanoparticles have been supported on the TiO2 nanotube. The supported system has been characterized by electron microscopy and electrochemical analysis. SEM image shows that the nanotubes are well aligned and the TEM image shows that the Pt particles are uniformly distributed over the TiO2 nanotube support. A homogeneous structure in the composite nanomaterials is indicated by XRD analysis. The electrocatalytic activity of the platinum catalyst supported on TiO2 nanotubes for methanol oxidation is found to be better than that of the standard commercial E-TEK catalyst.     

Interface architecture determined electrocatalytic activity of Pt on vertically oriented TiO(2) nanotubes

The surface atomic structure and chemical state of Pt is consequential in a variety of surface-intensive devices. Herein we present the direct interrelationship between the growth scheme of Pt films, the resulting atomic and electronic structure of Pt species, and the consequent activity for methanol electro-oxidation in Pt/TiO(2) nanotube hybrid electrodes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements were performed to relate the observed electrocatalytic activity to the oxidation state and the atomic structure of the deposited Pt species. The atomic structure as well as the oxidation state of the deposited Pt was found to depend on the pretreatment of the TiO(2) nanotube surfaces with electrodeposited Cu. Pt growth through Cu replacement increases Pt dispersion, and a separation of surface Pt atoms beyond a threshold distance from the TiO(2) substrate renders them metallic, rather than cationic. The increased dispersion and the metallic character of Pt results in strongly enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation. This study points to a general phenomenon whereby the growth scheme and the substrate-to-surface-Pt distance dictates the chemical state of the surface Pt atoms, and thereby, the performance of Pt-based surface-intensive devices.     

载铂TiO2纳米管的制备与表征

对在TiO2纳米管表面上沉积铂进行了研究．HRTEM、XPS结果表明：第一步沉积在粉末TiO2表面上的铂粒为纳米尺寸，系由PtO2和Pt(OH)2组成；第二步制成纳米管后，铂粒在纳米管外表面分布均匀．为下一步以TiO2纳米管作为催化剂载体的研究奠定了基础．     

Novel carbon-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays with high aspect ratios for efficient solar water splitting

The photocatalytic splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen using solar light is a potentially clean and renewable source for hydrogen fuel.(1,2) There has been extensive investigation into metal-oxide semiconductors such as TiO(2), WO(3), and Fe(2)O(3), which can be used as photoanodes in thin-film form.(3-5) Of the materials being developed for photoanodes, TiO(2) remains one of the most promising because of its low cost, chemical inertness, and photostability.(6) However, the widespread technological use of TiO(2) is hindered by its low utilization of solar energy in the visible region. In this study, we report the preparation of vertically grown carbon-doped TiO(2) (TiO(2-x)C(x)) nanotube arrays with high aspect ratios for maximizing the photocleavage of water under white-light irradiation. The synthesized TiO(2-x)C(x) nanotube arrays showed much higher photocurrent densities and more efficient water splitting under visible-light illumination (> 420 nm) than pure TiO(2) nanotube arrays. The total photocurrent was more than 20 times higher than that with a P-25 nanoparticulate film under white-light illumination.     

Preparation and properties of a carbon nanotube-based nanocomposite photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells

This study fabricates dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on TiO(2)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposite photoanodes obtained by the modified acid-catalyzed sol-gel procedure. Results show that incorporating MWCNTs into a TiO(2)-based electrode efficiently improves the physicochemical properties of the solar cell. The results of dye adsorption and cell performance measurements indicate that introducing MWCNTs would improve the roughness factor (from?834 to?1267) of the electrode and the charge recombination of electron/hole (e(-)/h(+)) pairs. These significant changes could lead to higher adsorbed dye quantities, photocurrent and DSSC cell performance. Nevertheless, a higher loading of MWCNTs causes light-harvesting competition that affects the light adsorption of the dye-sensitizer, and consequently reduces the cell efficiency. This study suggests an optimum MWCNT loading in the electrode of 0.3?wt%, and proposes a sol-gel synthesis procedure as a promising method of preparing the TiO(2)-based nanocomposite.     

染料敏化太阳能电池中CuO/TiO2薄膜制备及应用

采用普通直流电沉积和超声直流电沉积制备Cu∕TiO2纳米管阵列∕Ti基复合薄膜,而后在NaOH溶液中用电氧化的方法将Cu单质氧化成CuO,制备了CuO∕TiO2纳米管阵列∕Ti基复合薄膜。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射仪(XRD)对两种复合薄膜电极的形貌和结构进行了表征,详细考察了电镀工艺参数(电流密度)和超声波对复合薄膜形貌的影响。同时通过稳态光电响应技术对复合薄膜电极组成的染料敏华太阳能电池(DSSC)的光电性能进行了研究,结果表明:通过普通直流电沉积在工艺参数(3mA/cm2、5min)处制备的复合薄膜组装的DSSC具有该体系下的最佳光电性能(Jsc=9.00mA/cm2、Voc=0.664V、FF=0.512、η=3.06%);在同等条件下通过超声辅助直流电沉积制备的复合薄膜组装的DSSC的最佳光电性能(Jsc=15.50mA/cm2、Voc=0.688V、FF=0.505、η=5.39%)出现在工艺参数为(6mA/cm2、5min)处。对比可知超声条件下的光电性能较好,且最佳光电性能工艺参数发生了后移。     

碳纳米管在染料敏化太阳电池光阳极中的应用

TiO2作为光阳极薄膜材料,广泛应用于染料敏化太阳电池(DSC)中.在TiO2多孔薄膜中掺碳纳米管,不仅可以加快光生电子在TiO2薄膜内的传输,同时也可以增加电子寿命,从而提高染料敏化太阳电池的效率.本文综述了近年来在TiO2中掺碳纳米管的研究成果,简要介绍了碳纳米管在DSC中的作用;归纳了掺杂于TiO2光阳极的碳纳米...     

Effect of MWCNT Inclusion in TiO2 Nanowire Array Film on the Photoelectrochemical Performance

Rutile TiO2 nanowire array films with multi-walled carbon nanotube(MWCNT) inclusion perpendicularly grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide(FTO) substrate were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method.The absorption edges of the TiO2 nanowire array films are blue-shifted with increasing MWCNT content.The resistance of the TiO2 nanowire array film is decreased by MWCNT inclusion.The optimum TiO2 /MWCNT molar ratio in the feedstock is 1:0.1.For the TiO2 nanowire array film with MWCNT inclusion served as electrode in dye-sensitized solar cell(DSSC),an overall 194% increase of photoelectric conversion efficiency has been achieved.     

Hydrochloric acid treatment of TiO2 electrode for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated by sandwiched polymer electrolyte containing liquid electrolytes between the dye-sensitized TiO2 electrode and a Pt electrode. The influence of hydrochloric acid treatment of TiO2 photoelectrode on the photoelectronic performance was investigated. Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell showed better photoelectronic performance when the TiO2 electrode was treated with hydrochloric acid than that without treatment. The short-circuit current density (J(sc)), the open-circuit voltage (V(oc)), and a conversion efficiency obtained for an incident light intensity of 100 mW m(-2) were 6.49 mA cm(-2), 0.76 V and 4.1%, respectively. It was found that the hydrochloric acid treatment of TiO2 electrode increased the short-circuit current density and cell efficiency.     

Nano-TiO2 for dye-sensitized solar cells

Photovoltaics are amongst the most popular renewable energy sources and low-cost solar cell technologies are making progress to the market. Research on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) usually based on nanocrystalline TiO2 has been extensively pursued, and the number of papers and patents published in this area has grown exponentially over the last ten years. Research efforts have largely focused on the optimization of the dye, but recently the TiO2 nanocrystalline electrode itself has attracted more attention. It has been shown that particle size and shape, crystallinity, surface morphology and chemistry of the TiO2 material are key parameters to be controlled for optimized performance of the solar cell. This article will review the most recent research activities on nanostructured TiO2 for improvement of the DSSC performance.     

Electrochemical fabrication of titania nanotube arrays with tunning nature of dimethyl sulfoxide and its application for hydrogen sensing

In the present work, tuning effects of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) on the length, wall thickness, dimension and morphology of titania nanotube arrays fabricated by anodization was investigated. DMSO presented in both ethylene glycol and glycerol electrolytes provided excellent tunability in length, wall thickness and diameter of the produced TiO2 nanotube arrays by systematically varying the DMSO concentration. At the DMSO concentration of 12 wt% in ethylene glycol, the nanotube length could be up to 13.0 microm at 20 V for 8 h anodization. The TiO2 nanotube arrays produced in DMSO containing ethylene glycol or glycerol electrolytes displayed a high sensitivity to hydrogen at room temperature compared to the absence of DMSO. The further enhancement of resistance response could be achieved by coating a Pt and Pd layer on the surface of TiO2 nanotube-arrays. The presented work provided a simple way to control formation of TiO2 nanotube arrays through the tuning effects of DMSO in ethylene glycol or glycerol electrolytes.     

Nanorods and nanotubes for solar cells

Nanorods and nanotubes as photoactive materials as well as electrodes in photovoltaic cells have been launched a few years ago, and the literature in this field started to appear only recently. The first steps have shown both advantages and disadvantages of their application, and the main expectation associated with their effective charge transport has not been realized completely. This article aims to review both the first and the recent tendencies in the development and application of nanorod and nanotube materials in photovoltaic cells. Two basic techniques of synthesis of crystalline nanorod structures are described, the top-down and bottom-up approaches, respectively. Design and photovoltaic performance of solar cells based on various semiconductor nanorod materials, such as TiO2, ZnO, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, CuO, Si are presented and compared with respective solar cells based on semiconductor nanoparticles. Specific of synthesis and application of carbon nanotubes in photovoltaic devices is also reviewed.     

Highly efficient solar cells using TiO(2) nanotube arrays sensitized with a donor-antenna dye

Donor antenna dyes provide an exciting route to improving the efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells owing to their high molar extinction coefficients and the effective spatial separation of charges in the charge-separated state, which decelerates the recombination of photogenerated charges. Vertically oriented TiO(2) nanotube arrays provide an optimal material architecture for photoelectrochemical devices because of their large internal surface area, lower recombination losses, and vectorial charge transport along the nanotube axis. In this study, the results obtained by sensitizing TiO(2) nanotube arrays with the donor antenna dye Ru-TPA-NCS are presented. Solar cells fabricated using an antenna dye-sensitized array of 14.4 microm long TiO(2) nanotubes on Ti foil subjected to AM 1.5 one sun illumination in the backside geometry exhibited an overall conversion efficiency of 6.1%. An efficiency of 4.1% was obtained in the frontside illumination geometry using a 1 microm long array of transparent TiO(2) nanotubes subjected to a TiCl(4) treatment and then sensitized with the Ru-TPA-NCS dye. Open circuit voltage decay measurements give insight into the recombination behavior in antenna-dye sensitized nanotube photoelectrodes, demonstrating outstanding properties likely due to a reduction in the influence of the surface traps and reduced electron transfer from TiO(2) to ions in solution.     

F掺杂TiO2纳米管阵列的可见光催化活性和电子结构

采用电化学阳极氧化法,在纯Ti表面一步制得原位生长的F掺杂TiO2纳米管阵列.对煅烧后样品进行扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线多晶衍射(XRD)表征.结果表明,所得TiO2纳米管排列整齐、平均管径约40 nm,平均管长约700 nm.XPS蚀刻分析发现,少量F原子以F-Ti-O键的形式掺杂进了TiO2晶格,同时产生活性物质T...     

碳掺杂TiO2纳米管电极的简易制备及其光电化学性能

通过阳极氧化方法制备了TiO₂纳米管薄膜, 在NaHCO₃存在下对该薄膜进行热处理得到碳掺杂TiO₂(C-TiO₂)纳米管薄膜, 通过X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、紫外-可见漫反射光谱、电化学阻抗谱(EIS)和Mott-Schottky等方法对得到的薄膜进行表征。XRD结果表明C-TiO₂纳米管薄膜中的TiO₂主要为锐钛矿晶型; SEM结果显示薄膜存在纳米管结构; XPS分析表明C-TiO₂纳米管薄膜中的C以替代型掺杂形式进入到TiO₂晶格中; 光电化学性能测试显示, 相对于TiO₂纳米薄膜, C-TiO₂阻抗减小, 平带电位由-0.28 V负移至-0.38 V, 具有更好的紫外-可见光和可见光响应, 紫外-可见光下的光电流是未掺杂的1.7倍。利用阳极氧化的Ti丝作为光阳极和Pt丝作为对电极组装了染料敏化太阳能电池并进行了性能测试, 结果表明, 经过碳掺杂的Ti /TiO₂丝为光阳极电池的短路电流密度和电池效率分别达到0.17 mA/cm²和3.8%, 较未掺杂的Ti/TiO₂丝为光阳极的电池的短路电流密度和电池效率均增大, 表明适量的碳掺杂有利于提高电池效率。     

An integrated power pack of dye-sensitized solar cell and Li battery based on double-sided TiO2 nanotube arrays

We present a new approach to fabricate an integrated power pack by hybridizing energy harvest and storage processes. This power pack incorporates a series-wound dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and a lithium ion battery (LIB) on the same Ti foil that has double-sided TiO(2) nanotube (NTs) arrays. The solar cell part is made of two different cosensitized tandem solar cells based on TiO(2) nanorod arrays (NRs) and NTs, respectively, which provide an open-circuit voltage of 3.39 V and a short-circuit current density of 1.01 mA/cm(2). The power pack can be charged to about 3 V in about 8 min, and the discharge capacity is about 38.89 μAh under the discharge density of 100 μA. The total energy conversion and storage efficiency for this system is 0.82%. Such an integrated power pack could serve as a power source for mobile electronics.