A Simple Low Temperature and Pressure Method for the Synthesis of Quasi-one Dimensional Nano Structures of TiO_2 for Dye Synthesized Solar Cells

摘要

In this work we have synthesizedTiO_2nanostructures using a modified autoclave-free hydrothermal method from bulk powders. In the absence of pressure, Toluene was used as the dispersing agent to prohibit particle aggregation during the thermal treatment. Toluene to Ti mole ratio (X) was varied from 0 up to 30 to obtain different morphologies of TiO_2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated the Anatase phase for all the samples. FTIR analysis indicated that samples are free of carbon rich compounds and carbon contaminants. SEM images showed that with the increase of Toluene to Ti ratio, the morphology of the powders change from spherical particles with an average size of about 45 nm for X=0 to broccoli-shape structure for X=10, nanotubes for X=20 and nano sticks/wires for X=30. The synthesized TiO_2 nanotubes have been used as photoanode in a dye synthesized solar cell (DSSCs). The efficiency of the fabricated solar cell without any further modification was obtained about 2.3%.