Preparation of TiO2 nanotube/nanoparticle composite particles and their applications in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells [DSSCs] was enhanced by combining the use of TiO 2 nanotubes [TNTs] and nanoparticles. TNTs were fabricated by a sol-gel method, and TiO 2 powders were produced through an alkali hydrothermal transformation. DSSCs were constructed using TNTs and TiO 2 nanoparticles at various weight percentages. TNTs and TiO 2 nanoparticles were coated onto FTO glass by the screen printing method. The DSSCs were fabricated using ruthenium(II) (N-719) and electrolyte (I 3 /I 3 - ) dyes. The crystalline structure and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction and using a scanning electron microscope. The absorption spectra were measured using an UV-Vis spectrometer. The incident photocurrent conversion efficiency was measured using a solar simulator (100 mW/cm 2 ). The DSSCs based on TNT/TiO 2 nanoparticle hybrids showed better photovoltaic performance than cells made purely of TiO 2 nanoparticles.