Rutile TiO_2 nanorod arrays incorporated with α-alumina for high efficiency dye sensitized solar cells

摘要

Rutile TiO2 nanorod arrays (TNAs) incorporating with -alumina (-Al2O3) thin film have been fabricated on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) by a modest and flexible doctor-blade technique-based hydrothermal method. The crystallinity of -Al2O3 on TNAs and morphological control of the photo-anodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectrophotometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive spectrometric (EDS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The growth of -Al2O3 crystals is influenced by aluminium seed concentrations. The growth mechanism of different morphological TNAs due to the incorporation of -Al2O3 was discussed in detail. It has also demonstrated to the application of dye sensitized solar cells. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) prepared with 3% -Al2O3 incorporated TNAs shows an improved short-circuit current density of 15.23mAcm(-2), open-circuit photo voltage of 0.68V, fill factor of 0.63 and a power conversion efficiency of 6.5%.