Abstract
Ethanol-soluble amphiphilic TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) of average diameter ∼9 nm were synthesized, and an α-terpineol-based TiO 2 paste was readily prepared from them in comparatively few steps. When used for fabrication of photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the paste yielded highly transparent films and possessing greater-than-typical, thickness-normalized surface areas. These film properties enabled the corresponding DSSCs to produce high photocurrent densities (17.7 mA cm-2) and a comparatively high overall light-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency (9.6%) when deployed with the well-known ruthenium-based molecular dye, N719. These efficiencies are about ∼1.4 times greater than those obtained from DSSCs containing photoelectrodes derived from a standard commercial source of TiO2 paste.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1996-1999 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Langmuir |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 1 2011 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Spectroscopy
- Electrochemistry