Preparation of TiO(2 )nanotube/nanoparticle composite particles and their applications in dye-sensitized solar cells

Efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells [DSSCs] was enhanced by combining the use of TiO(2 )nanotubes [TNTs] and nanoparticles. TNTs were fabricated by a sol-gel method, and TiO(2 )powders were produced through an alkali hydrothermal transformation. DSSCs were constructed using TNTs and TiO(2 )nanoparticles at various weight percentages. TNTs and TiO(2 )nanoparticles were coated onto FTO glass by the screen printing method. The DSSCs were fabricated using ruthenium(II) (N-719) and electrolyte (I(3)/I(3)(-)) dyes. The crystalline structure and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction and using a scanning electron microscope. The absorption spectra were measured using an UV-Vis spectrometer. The incident photocurrent conversion efficiency was measured using a solar simulator (100 mW/cm(2)). The DSSCs based on TNT/TiO(2 )nanoparticle hybrids showed better photovoltaic performance than cells made purely of TiO(2 )nanoparticles.