TiO_2 Nanotube Array as Efficient Transparent Photoanode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell with High Electron Lifetime

• Authors: A. Lamberti , A. Sacco , D. Hidalgo , S. Bianco , D. Manfredi , M. Quaglio , E. Tresso , C. Pirri
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In the present work, the fabrication and characterization of non-curling, free-standing TiO_2 nanotube membranes and their integration in front-side illuminated dye-sensitized solar cells are reported. Vertically oriented TiO_2 nanotube arrays were fabricated by anodic oxidation of a titanium foil. Nanotube membranes were detached from the metallic foil, transferred and bonded on transparent fluorine-doped tin oxide/glass substrates employing a TiO_2 sol as a binder. Crystalline phase and morphology of the film were investigated, evidencing the formation of a highly ordered 1D nanotubes carpet, with a pure anatase crystalline structure. TiO_2 nanotube-based DSCs were fabricated using reversible microfluidic architecture. The cell performances were studied by I-V electrical characterization, incident-photon-to-electron conversion efficiency, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and open circuit voltage decay measurements, showing an increase in electron lifetime compared to nanoparticle-based dye-sensitized solar cells.

Keywords

EN

73.63.Bd; 72.20.Jv; 72.40.+w; 73.40.Mr; 88.40.H-; 81.07.De

Discipline

• 88.40.H-: Solar cells (photovoltaics)
• 81.07.De: Nanotubes
• 73.63.Bd: Nanocrystalline materials
• 73.40.Mr: Semiconductor-electrolyte contacts
• 72.20.Jv: Charge carriers: generation, recombination, lifetime, and trapping
• 72.40.+w: Photoconduction and photovoltaic effects

• Publisher: Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Acta Physica Polonica A
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 123
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 376-379

Dates

published

2013-02

Contributors

author

A. Lamberti

• Center for Space Human Robotics @ PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy

author

A. Sacco

• Center for Space Human Robotics @ PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy

author

D. Hidalgo

• Center for Space Human Robotics @ PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy

author

S. Bianco

• Center for Space Human Robotics @ PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy

author

D. Manfredi

• Center for Space Human Robotics @ PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy

author

M. Quaglio

• Center for Space Human Robotics @ PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy

author

E. Tresso

• Center for Space Human Robotics @ PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy
• Applied Science and Technology Department, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy

author

C. Pirri

• Center for Space Human Robotics @ PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy
• Applied Science and Technology Department, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy

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Identifiers

DOI

10.12693/APhysPolA.123.376