title: Ag nanoparticle-deposited TiO2 nanotube arrays for electrodes of Dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Dye-sensitized solar cells composed of a photoanode of Ag nanoparticle (NP)-deposited TiO2 nanotube (TNT) arrays were fabricated. The TNT arrays were prepared by anodizing Ti films on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates. Efficient charge transportation through the ordered nanostructure of TNT arrays should be carried out compared to conventional particulate TiO2 electrodes. However, it has been a big challenge to grow TNT arrays on FTO glass substrates with the lengths needed for sufficient light-harvesting (tens of micrometers). In this work, we deposited Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on the wall of TNT arrays to enhance light-harvesting property. Dye-sensitized solar cells with these Ag NP-deposited TNT arrays yielded a higher power conversion efficiency (2.03 %) than those without Ag NPs (1.39 %).
  06.60.Ei Sample preparation, 81.05.Bx Metals, Semimetals, Alloys, 81.07.De Nanotubes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, 441-8580 Aichi Japan.
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, 441-8580 Aichi Japan.
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, 441-8580 Aichi Japan.
authors.forename: Wai Kian
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: School of Materials and Mineral Resources, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zainovia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lockman
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, 441-8580 Aichi Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, 441-8580 Aichi Japan.
authors.forename: Atsunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuda
keywords: Ag nanoparticles; Anodization; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Light harvesting; TiO2 nanotube arrays