title: Anodic Ag/TiO2 nanotube array formation in NaOH/fluoride/ethylene glycol electrolyte as a photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Self-organized, 23 μm-thick anodic TiO2 nanotube (TNT) arrays were formed in sodium hydroxide/fluoride/ethylene glycol (EG) electrolyte at 60 V for 60 min. The presence of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the fluoride/EG electrolyte accelerates the formation of the TiO2 nanotube arrays. The anodic film was then decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) by the photodeposition process and used as a photoanode in a rear-side-illuminated dye-sensitized solar cell. The Ag NPs decorated TNT arrays, with the former having diameters of 10-30 nm formed from 0.2 M of Ag-precursor solution and exhibiting the highest photoconversion efficiency (η) of 3.7% and a short-circuit current density of 12.2 mA cm(-2) compared to η = 3% and short-circuit current density of 9.1 mA cm(-2) for a sample without Ag NPs. The increase in η is thought to be due to the surface plasmon resonance and excess electrons from the nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Green Electronics Nanomaterials Group, School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, 441-8580, Japan.
authors.forename: Nyein
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nyein
authors.forename: Wai Kian
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Astunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Zainovia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lockman