Study On Photoelectric Properties Of Nano - Sized Anode Of PPy / TiO 2 Solar Cells

The current non-renewable energy resources are consumed constantly and theenvironmental pollution is intensified continuously. At the same time, the existence ofhuman being is facing great threat. The solar cells are a kind of devices that canconverse the solar energy to electric energy. To develop solar cells can not only solvethe energy crisis in the world but also promote the environmental protection.Due to special physics and chemistry of one-dimensional TiO2nanomaterials,such as photo-generated electrons and holes can be separated effectively, in additiontransported rapidly, it is intensively researched in the fields of photocatalysis, solarcells and sensors. Although nano-TiO2absorbs ultraviolet strongly, it misses visiblerange absorption, so another material is often used to sensitize nano-TiO2to harvestwide-range solar spectrum, to enhance photoeletric conversion of TiO2solar cellsbecomes a focus of researches.Polypyrrole (PPy) is a narrow p-type semiconductor suitable to sensitize n-typeTiO2，besides it has a lot of potential applications in polymeric conduction, opticaldevices, and sensor with its good thermal stability, high electrical conductivity andsimple preparation.Combining PPy with nano-sized TiO2reveals a new type of photoelectricorganic-inorganic composites, with wide application prospects in organic pollutantdegradation, solar energy and photocatalysis.This paper focuses on:1) hydrothermally growing one-dimensional TiO2nanoclusters;2) electrochemically deposition of PPy on nano-TiO2; and3)photoelectro-chemical properties of the PPy-TiO2composites photoanode. Themorphology, structure and photoelectric performance of above related materials werecharacterized and analysized using SEM (FESEM), UV-VIS, electrochemicalimpedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (C-V). The results indicate that:1)nano-TiO2can grow hydrothermally on pure Titanium, and2) PPy can beelectro-deposited on nano-TiO2,3) with sensitization of nano-TiO2by PPy,satisfactory photoelectric response can be observed.