Surface modified TiO2 nanostructure with 3D urchin-like morphology for dye-sensitized solar cell application.
Three-dimensional (3D) urchin-like rutile TiO2 powders were synthesized by a mild hydrothermal method without any templates. An individual urchin-like TiO2 powder consists of self-assembled nanorods with a length of about 150 nm and width of about 10 nm. Additionally, the urchin-like TiO2 nanopowders were coated with an ultra-thin ZnO layer in order to modify the surface properties of the nanopowders, and the ZnO layer was confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The ZnO-modified TiO2 was used as a photoelectrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and the solar cell performances were investigated. In comparison with bare TiO2, ZnO-modified TiO2 improved the photovoltaic performances, i.e., energy conversion efficiency, open circuit voltage, and short circuit current were increased. The higher DSSC performance of ZnO-modified TiO2 was attributed to its higher dye loading and lower charge recombination rate.
WCU Hybrid Materials Program, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, South Korea.
Seong Sik
SS
Shin
Dong Wook
DW
Kim
Sangwook
S
Lee
In-Sun
IS
Cho
Dong Hoe
DH
Kim
Jong Hoon
JH
Park
Kug Sun
KS
Hong