title: Ag nanoparticle-filled TiO2nanotube arrays prepared by anodization and electrophoretic deposition for dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: A layer of TiO2nanotube (TNT) arrays with a thickness of 13 μm is synthesized by a two-step anodic oxidation from Ti metal foil. Surface charged Ag nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by chemical reduction. After a pretreatment of the TNT arrays by acetone vapor, Ag NP filled TNT arrays can be achieved by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Effects of the applied voltage during EPD such as DC-AC difference, frequency and waveform are investigated by quantitative analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results show that the best EPD condition is using DC 2 V + AC 4 V and a square wave of 1 Hz as the applied voltage. Back illuminated dye-sensitized solar cells are fabricated from TNT arrays with and without Ag NPs. The efficiency increased from 3.70% to 5.01% by the deposition of Ag NPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan. Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Pascal Sugri
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Nbelayim
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: Atsunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuda