Effect of co-sensitization of CdSe nanoparticles with N3 dye on TiO_2 nanotubes

摘要

Cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles were synthesized in aqueous medium using mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as the stabilizer at the temperature 100 ℃. Air stable sodium selenite (Na_2SeO_3) was used as the selenium source. The synthesized particles were used to co-sensitize the TiO_2 nanotubes with N3 dye. Ex-situ linker assisted method was used to sensitize the nanotubes by CdSe nanoparticles. Electrochemical anodization technique was employed to prepare TiO_2 nanotubes in the presence of hydrogen fluoride (HF) as electrolyte. A solar cell was fabricated using co-sensitized TiO_2 nanotubes by N3 dye/CdSe nanoparticles as the anode and platinum coated fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode as the cathode. Polysulphide (S~(2-)/S_x~(2-)) mixture was used as the electrolyte. UV-Visible, SEM, AFM and TEM analysis were used to characterize the synthesized particles and TiO_2 nanotubes.