Preparation Of TiO₂Nanotube Arrays And Its Application In The DSSC

ABSTRACT:Nano titania is an important inorganic functional material. Compared with other morphologic form of titania, TiO2nanotube array has broader application prospect in many fields, due to its stronger adsorb ability, higher specific surface area, and efficient electron transfer path.Compared with other preparation methods,Anodic oxidation process is more simple to operate with relatively low cost. And more importantly, It can produce high quality regular nanotube array..In this paper, the morphology and crystal form of titania nanotube array were studied in different electrolyte systems, different anodic potentials, different anodic times and the samples processing during the anodic oxidation process. The results indicate that the of TiO2nanotube array can be regularly formed in the2vol%water of electrolyte system. Anodic time obviously influences the nanotube length:the length of nanotube become longer with the the extension of anodic time in a certain time, the pore size and wall thickness of nanotube become bigger with the increasing anodic voltage in a certain voltage range. The debris and residual electrolyte of nanotube surface can be removed by ultrasonic washing. And the anatase crystallite from amorphous as-fabricated TiO2nanotube arrays can be formed under the condition of450℃annealing.In addition, the application of TiO2nanotube array in the Dye-sensitized solar cell(DSSC) is investigated. In this paper, TiO2nanotube arrays, prepared at different conditions, were used as photoelectrodes to assemble DSSC. The results show that the anodic oxidation condition of TiO2nanotube arrays has an important influence on the photovoltaic properties of DSSC. The TiO2nanotube array fabricated with2vol%water of electrolyte system possess a better photovoltaic property. With the the extension of anodic time in a certain time, Jsc become bigger, while Voc and FF increases first and then decreases. become bigger with the increasing anodic voltage in a certain voltage range, Jsc become bigger,and FF increases first and then decreases. Furthermore, the voltage has no significant effect on Voc The best photovoltaic property we obtain in this paper are:Jsc=5.2mA/cm2, Voc=0.7V, FF=0.54, η=1.96%.