title: D-sorbitol-induced phase control of TiO2 nanoparticles and its application for dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Using a simple hydrothermal synthesis, the crystal structure of TiO2 nanoparticles was controlled from rutile to anatase using a sugar alcohol, D-sorbitol. Adding small amounts of D-sorbitol to an aqueous TiCl4 solution resulted in changes in the crystal phase, particle size, and surface area by affecting the hydrolysis rate of TiCl4. These changes led to improvements of the solar-to-electrical power conversion efficiency (η) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) fabricated using these nanoparticles. A postulated reaction mechanism concerning the role of D-sorbitol in the formation of rutile and anatase was proposed. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering analyses were used to better understand the interaction between the Ti precursor and D-sorbitol. The crystal phase and size of the synthesized TiO2 nanocrystallites as well as photovoltaic performance of the DSSC were examined using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and photocurrent density-applied voltage spectroscopy measurement techniques. The DSSC fabricated using the anatase TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized in the presence of D-sorbitol, exhibited an enhanced η (6%, 1.5-fold improvement) compared with the device fabricated using the rutile TiO2 synthesized without D-sorbitol.
authors: Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-791, Republic of Korea.|Department of Clean Energy and Chemical Engineering, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea.
authors: Shoyebmohamad F
authors: SF
authors: Shaikh
authors: School of Physical Sciences, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded, 431 606, India.
authors: Rajaram S
authors: RS
authors: Mane
authors: Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-791, Republic of Korea.|Department of Clean Energy and Chemical Engineering, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea.|Green School, Korea University, Anam-dong Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-713, Republic of Korea.
authors: Byoung Koun
authors: BK
authors: Min
authors: Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-791, Republic of Korea.|Department of Clean Energy and Chemical Engineering, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yun Jeong
authors: YJ
authors: Hwang
authors: Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-791, Republic of Korea.|Department of Clean Energy and Chemical Engineering, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea.
authors: Oh-shim
authors: OS
authors: Joo