TiO2 compact layers prepared by low temperature colloidal synthesis and deposition for high performance dye-sensitized solar cells

Improving the mass transport of copper-complex redox mediators in dye-sensitized solar cells by reducing the inter-electrode distance

Reduction of inter-electrode distance in DSCs with copper-based electrolyte increases the photocurrent and fill factor by improving internal transport.

New layer-by-layer Nb2O5–TiO2 film as an effective underlayer in dye-sensitised solar cells

All-inorganic layer-by-layer TiO₂–Nb₂O₅ films were applied as underlayers in DSCs, leading to an expressive improvement on the conversion efficiency.

Photoinduced Charge Transfer from Titania to Surface Doping Site

We evaluate a theoretical model in which Ru is substituting for Ti at the (100) surface of anatase TiO2. Charge transfer from the photo-excited TiO2 substrate to the catalytic site triggers the photo-catalytic event (such as water oxidation or reduction half-reaction). We perform ab-initio computational modeling of the charge transfer dynamics on the interface of TiO2 nanorod and catalytic site. A slab of TiO2 represents a fragment of TiO2 nanorod in the anatase phase. Titanium to ruthenium replacement is performed in a way to match the symmetry of TiO2 substrate. One molecular layer of adsorbed water is taken into consideration to mimic the experimental conditions. It is found that these adsorbed water molecules saturate dangling surface bonds and drastically affect the electronic properties of systems investigated. The modeling is performed by reduced density matrix method in the basis of Kohn-Sham orbitals. A nano-catalyst modeled through replacement defect contributes energy levels near the bottom of the conduction band of TiO2 nano-structure. An exciton in the nano-rod is dissipating due to interaction with lattice vibrations, treated through non-adiabatic coupling. The electron relaxes to conduction band edge and then to the Ru cite with faster rate than hole relaxes to the Ru cite. These results are of the importance for an optimal design of nano-materials for photo-catalytic water splitting and solar energy harvesting.