We report our recent studies on the one-dimensional (1D) TiO2 nanostructures as photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). One-dimensional TiO2 nanofibers and nanotubes are prepared by electrospinning technique, and are used as the mesoporous photoanode in DSSCs.  The charge transport and recombination in the photoanode based on the composites of these 1D TiO2 nanostructures and nanoparticles are characterized by the dark current, photovoltage as a function of light intensity, and transient photovoltage and photocurrent measurements.  The results indicate that the addition of 1D TiO2 nanostructures into the composite photoanodes leads to substantial reduction of electron recombination and improvement of the charge collection efficiency.  This is due to highly crystalline grains with fewer grain boundaries in 1D TiO2 nanostructures as observed in structural characterizations.  Further, a flexible and transferable hybrid mat consisting of anatase-phase TiO2 and amorphous SiO2 nanofibers is prepared via low-cost and scalable dual-spinneret electrospinning method.  The hybrid nanofiber mat processes superior thermal stability and mechanical integrity.  Composite of TiO2/SiO2 nanofibers and TiO2 nanoparticles (TSPM), formed by impregnation of TiO2 nanoparticles into the hybrid mat, is used as photoanode after it is transferred to a substrate.  The efficiency of DSSCs based on TSPM increases with increase of sintering temperature due to the improved connectivity between TiO2 nanoparticles in the TSPM.  The photoanode based on this composite mat achieves a power conversion efficiency of 6.74�0.33% on the FTO substrate.

Electrospun TiO<sub>2 </sub>nanomaterials for dye-sensitized solar cell

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Electrospun TiO2 nanomaterials for dye-sensitized solar cell

Electrospun TiO₂nanomaterials for dye-sensitized solar cell