title: Fabrication of 3D interconnected porous TiO2 nanotubes templated by poly(vinyl chloride-g-4-vinyl pyridine) for dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Porous TiO(2) nanotube arrays with three-dimensional (3D) interconnectivity were prepared using a sol-gel process assisted by poly(vinyl chloride-graft-4-vinyl pyridine), PVC-g-P4VP graft copolymer and a ZnO nanorod template. A 7 µm long ZnO nanorod array was grown from the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass via a liquid phase deposition method. The TiO(2) sol-gel solution templated by the PVC-g-P4VP graft copolymer produced a random 3D interconnection between the adjacent ZnO nanorods during spin coating. Upon etching of ZnO, TiO(2) nanotubes consisting of 10-15 nm nanoparticles were generated, as confirmed by wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EF-TEM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The ordered and interconnected nanotube architecture showed an enhanced light scattering effect and increased penetration of polymer electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The energy conversion efficiency reached 1.82% for liquid electrolyte, and 1.46% for low molecular weight (M(w)) and 0.74% for high M(w) polymer electrolytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Jong Kwan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Jin Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Jong-Shik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jong Hak
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D058105:Polymerization; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D012993:Solar Energy; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014752:Vinyl Chloride / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D004573:Electrolytes; D011145:Polyvinyls; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D015034:Zinc Oxide; D014752:Vinyl Chloride