A reliable TiO2 nanotube membrane transfer method and its application in photovoltaic devices

In this work we present a highly reproducible method to fabricate front-illuminated TiO2 nanotube-based dye-sensitized solar-cell. The well oriented nature of the nanotube arrays ensures favorable electron percolation pathways for charge transfer between interfaces. Our two-step anodization approach...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Electrochimica acta 2012-02, Vol.62, p.116-123
Main Authors: LI, Kang-Le, XIE, Zhi-Bin, ADAMS, Stefan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Arrays
Dyes
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Liquids
Membranes
Nanocomposites
Nanomaterials
Nanostructure
Natural energy
Photovoltaic conversion
Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells
Solar energy
Titanium dioxide
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Summary:In this work we present a highly reproducible method to fabricate front-illuminated TiO2 nanotube-based dye-sensitized solar-cell. The well oriented nature of the nanotube arrays ensures favorable electron percolation pathways for charge transfer between interfaces. Our two-step anodization approach allows for a nearly 100% reliable production of uniform films with a greater flexibility in the thickness of the nanotube membranes suitable for both liquid and solid electrolyte dye-sensitized solar-cells (DSCs). Large area nanotube membranes fabricated by this method were successfully detached and transferred onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and other substrates without crack formation. In contrast to earlier methods, the method presented here does not require steps that may damage the nanotube membrane quality such as prolonged ultrasonication or acid treatment. We systematically study the current-time profile and analyze the detachment mechanism. Front-illuminated nanotube-based dye-sensitized solar-cells using this method reach an efficiency of 6.3% with liquid electrolytes (of which at least 6.1% originate from the transferred membrane) and 1.9% when using the solid state hole conductor CuSCN under AM1.5 1 sun illumination.
ISSN:0013-4686
1873-3859
DOI:10.1016/j.electacta.2011.11.118