Mesoporous titania nanocrystals prepared using hexadecylamine surfactant template: Crystallization progress monitoring, morphological characterization and application in dye-sensitized solar cells
Loading...
Date
Authors
Alexaki, N.
Stergiopoulos, T.
Kontos, A. G.
Tsoukleris, D. S.
Katsoulidis, A. P.
Pomonis, P. J.
LeClere, D. J.
Skeldon, P.
Thompson, G. E.
Falaras, P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Type
Type of the conference item
Journal type
peer reviewed
Educational material type
Conference Name
Journal name
Microporous and Mesoporous Materials
Book name
Book series
Book edition
Alternative title / Subtitle
Description
Titania nanocrystals were prepared by a modified sol-gel synthesis using the hexadecylamine surfactant as template. The progress of the synthesis in terms of phase formation and size of nanoparticles was monitored by X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Both techniques confirmed the presence of small particles crystallized predominantly at the anatase structure. Nanocrystalline thin film electrodes were constructed using an aqueous paste prepared from the material without addition of any binder or surfactant and applied to glass substrates. After annealing at 450 degrees C in air, TEM, SEM and AFM microscopies have shown that the particles remain anatase, spherical with an average size of about 7 nm and significant agglomeration. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements revealed that the porosity is characteristic of a mesoporous solid with a very large specific surface (BET) area of 134 m(2)/g. The films were able to adsorb a large amount of standard N719 dye, making them capable to act as efficient photoelectrodes in nanostructured solar cells. Thus, after cell assembly, an overall energy conversion efficiency (eta) as high as 4.1% was attained. This value was higher than that measured with standard Degussa P25 titania films (eta = 3.4%). (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Description
Keywords
mesoporous titania nanocrystals, hexadecylamine surfactant, dye-sensitized solar cells, tio2 films, oxide, electrodes, efficiency, performance, conversion, nanotubes, light, size, gels
Subject classification
Citation
Link
<Go to ISI>://000268424700009
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S1387181109002224/1-s2.0-S1387181109002224-main.pdf?_tid=50708a373aa4cb51c7b99cc012a3795f&acdnat=1333036114_38c19b58a156bfec1339d84e140a3544
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S1387181109002224/1-s2.0-S1387181109002224-main.pdf?_tid=50708a373aa4cb51c7b99cc012a3795f&acdnat=1333036114_38c19b58a156bfec1339d84e140a3544
Language
en
Publishing department/division
Advisor name
Examining committee
General Description / Additional Comments
Institution and School/Department of submitter
Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων. Σχολή Θετικών Επιστημών. Τμήμα Χημείας