Investigation On Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes Photoanode For Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Application
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Date
2018-01
Authors
Cheong, Yuit Ling
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
This study primarily focused on the synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes (NTs) and the improvement of the TiO2-based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by components optimization. Titanium foil with sandpolish surface treatment was chosen to grow NTs due to its simplicity and even surface for the synthesis of NTs. TiO2 NTs were grown via various types of electrochemical anodization methods such as one-step, two-step, alternating voltage and fast anodization methods. For one and two-step anodizations, diameter and length of NT increased linearly with the applied voltage. However, the top view morphology of samples anodized by these methods was differed. In addition to that, NT length was not increased monotonously with anodization duration. Bamboo-like NT arrays were successfully grown via alternating voltage anodization. Nevertheless, the growth rate of NT formed via alternating voltage anodization method was lowest. Although lots of enhancements had been done to fabricate highly-ordered NTs through all these years, the growth rate of the basic NT formation is still highly insufficient, which at around 10 μm/hour only. However, a fast growth rate of NTs up to 71 μm/hour had been achieved in this study. The growth rate of NT was found to be strongly dependent on the presence of ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid disodium salt (Na2[H2EDTA]). Next, components optimization of the ionic liquid and additive-free DSSC was carried out to evaluate the influence of each component on the performance of DSSCs. The optimization steps including solvent and concentration ratio of redox electrolyte; voltage, duration and type of anodization method of photoanode; and lastly, platinum sputtered durations of counter electrode.
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Keywords
Titanium dioxide nanotubes photoanode , for dye sensitized solar cell application