Controlling Morphological Parameters of Anodized Titania Nanotubes for Optimized Solar Energy Applications
Anodized TiO2 nanotubes have received much attention for their use in solar energy applications including water oxidation cells and hybrid solar cells [dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and bulk heterojuntion solar cells (BHJs)]. High surface area allows for increased dye-adsorption and photon abso...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2012-10-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/10/1890 |
| _version_ | 1811344853429125120 |
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| author | Michael Hu Amanda Morris Andrew Haring |
| author_facet | Michael Hu Amanda Morris Andrew Haring |
| author_sort | Michael Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anodized TiO2 nanotubes have received much attention for their use in solar energy applications including water oxidation cells and hybrid solar cells [dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and bulk heterojuntion solar cells (BHJs)]. High surface area allows for increased dye-adsorption and photon absorption. Titania nanotubes grown by anodization of titanium in fluoride-containing electrolytes are aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface, reducing the electron diffusion path to the external circuit in solar cells. The nanotube morphology can be optimized for the various applications by adjusting the anodization parameters but the optimum crystallinity of the nanotube arrays remains to be realized. In addition to morphology and crystallinity, the method of device fabrication significantly affects photon and electron dynamics and its energy conversion efficiency. This paper provides the state-of-the-art knowledge to achieve experimental tailoring of morphological parameters including nanotube diameter, length, wall thickness, array surface smoothness, and annealing of nanotube arrays. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:53:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e2d246b5afb478fab8039e83bc5a9d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:53:25Z |
| publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e2d246b5afb478fab8039e83bc5a9d52022-12-22T02:32:24ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442012-10-015101890190910.3390/ma5101890Controlling Morphological Parameters of Anodized Titania Nanotubes for Optimized Solar Energy ApplicationsMichael HuAmanda MorrisAndrew HaringAnodized TiO2 nanotubes have received much attention for their use in solar energy applications including water oxidation cells and hybrid solar cells [dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and bulk heterojuntion solar cells (BHJs)]. High surface area allows for increased dye-adsorption and photon absorption. Titania nanotubes grown by anodization of titanium in fluoride-containing electrolytes are aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface, reducing the electron diffusion path to the external circuit in solar cells. The nanotube morphology can be optimized for the various applications by adjusting the anodization parameters but the optimum crystallinity of the nanotube arrays remains to be realized. In addition to morphology and crystallinity, the method of device fabrication significantly affects photon and electron dynamics and its energy conversion efficiency. This paper provides the state-of-the-art knowledge to achieve experimental tailoring of morphological parameters including nanotube diameter, length, wall thickness, array surface smoothness, and annealing of nanotube arrays.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/10/1890titaniaTiO2nanotubewater oxidationbulk heterojunction solar cellsdye-sensitized solar cellsphotoelectrochemical catalysis |
| spellingShingle | Michael Hu Amanda Morris Andrew Haring Controlling Morphological Parameters of Anodized Titania Nanotubes for Optimized Solar Energy Applications Materials titania TiO2 nanotube water oxidation bulk heterojunction solar cells dye-sensitized solar cells photoelectrochemical catalysis |
| title | Controlling Morphological Parameters of Anodized Titania Nanotubes for Optimized Solar Energy Applications |
| title_full | Controlling Morphological Parameters of Anodized Titania Nanotubes for Optimized Solar Energy Applications |
| title_fullStr | Controlling Morphological Parameters of Anodized Titania Nanotubes for Optimized Solar Energy Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Controlling Morphological Parameters of Anodized Titania Nanotubes for Optimized Solar Energy Applications |
| title_short | Controlling Morphological Parameters of Anodized Titania Nanotubes for Optimized Solar Energy Applications |
| title_sort | controlling morphological parameters of anodized titania nanotubes for optimized solar energy applications |
| topic | titania TiO2 nanotube water oxidation bulk heterojunction solar cells dye-sensitized solar cells photoelectrochemical catalysis |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/10/1890 |
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