Abstract
Water-splitting dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (WS-DSPECs) use a wide bandgap metal oxide semiconductor functionalized with a light-absorbing dye and water-oxidation catalyst to harvest light and drive water oxidation, respectively. We demonstrate here that the rutile polymorph of TiO2 (r-TiO2) is a promising anode material for WS-DSPECs. Recombination between the injected electron and oxidized sensitizer with r-TiO2 is an order of magnitude slower than with anatase TiO2 (a-TiO2), with injection yields approaching 100%. Studies with a reductive quencher demonstrate that r-TiO2 is significantly more efficient than a-TiO2, while exhibiting greater dye stability. Furthermore, comparison of direct band gap excitation photocurrent generation for bare and sensitized r-TiO2 suggests that the sensitizer functions as a light harvester and redox mediator.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 603-606 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | ACS Energy Letters |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 9 2016 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry (miscellaneous)
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Fuel Technology
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Materials Chemistry