One-step process for the synthesis and deposition of anatase, two-dimensional, disk-shaped TiO₂ for dye-sensitized solar cells.
We report a one-step process for the synthesis and deposition of anatase, two-dimensional (2D), disk-shaped TiO2 (DS-TiO2) using titanium isopropoxide (TTIP), ethyl cellulose (EC), and solvents. The planar structure of EC plays a pivotal role as the sacrificing template to generate the 2D disk-shaped structure with a thickness of 1.5-3.5 μm, while a disk-like structure was well developed in the tetrahydrofuran (THF)/toluene mixed solvent. The quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (qssDSSCs), fabricated with a nanogel electrolyte and a DS-TiO2 layer on a nanocrystalline (NC)-TiO2 photoanode, showed an energy conversion efficiency of 5.0% without any TiCl4 post-treatment, which is higher than that fabricated without DS-TiO2 (4.2%). When utilizing a poly((1-(4-ethenylphenyl)methyl)-3-butyl-imidazolium iodide) (PEBII) as the solid electrolyte, a high efficiency of 6.6% was achieved due to the combination of high mobility PEBII and a bifunctional DS-TiO2 layer with a 2D structure and anatase phase. The bifunctionality of the DS-TiO2 layer allows greater light scattering back into the device and provides additional surface area for improved dye adsorption, resulting in short circuit current density (Jsc).
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University , 262 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, South Korea.
Chang Soo
CS
Lee
Jin Kyu
JK
Kim
Jung Yup
JY
Lim
Jong Hak
JH
Kim
disk-shaped structure; dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC); ethyl cellulose; titanium dioxide (TiO2); two-dimensional (2D)