title: Solar physical vapor deposition preparation and microstructural characterization of TiO2 based nanophases for dye-sensitized solar cell applications.
abstract: Titanium dioxide exists in three crystalline phases: anatase, rutile and brookite. Although rutile is thermodynamically more stable, anatase is considered as the most favorable phase for photocatalysis and solar energy conversion. Recent studies have shown a significant improvement of light harvesting and overall solar conversion efficiency of anatase nanoparticles in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) when using a mixture of anatase and rutile phases (10-15% rutile). TiO2 nanopowders have been prepared by a solar physical vapor deposition process (SPVD). This method has been developed in Odeillo-Font Romeu France using "heliotron" solar reactors working under concentrated sunlight in 2 kW solar furnaces. By controlling reactor's atmosphere type (air/argon) and gas pressure, several types of anatase/rutile nanophases have been obtained with slightly different microstructural properties and morphological characteristics. X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD) were performed on precursor and on the SPVD obtained nanopowders. Information concerning their phase composition and coherence diffraction domain (crystallites size and strain) was obtained. Nanopowders morphology has been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
authors: Research Centre for Advanced Materials, University of Pitesti, 110040 Pitesti, Romania.
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Negrea
authors: Catalin
authors: C
authors: Ducu
authors: Sorin
authors: S
authors: Moga
authors: Viorel
authors: V
authors: Malinovschi
authors: Claude J A
authors: CJ
authors: Monty
authors: Bogdan
authors: B
authors: Vasile
authors: Dorel
authors: D
authors: Dorobantu
authors: Marian
authors: M
authors: Enachescu
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010316:Particle Size; D012993:Solar Energy; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005740:Gases; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium