TiO2 nanofiber/nanoparticles composite photoelectrodes with improved light harvesting ability for dye-sensitized solar cells

Porosity-dependent photoelectrochemical activity of double-layered TiO2 thin films deposited by spin-coating method

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells made of low-cost, chemically stable, and abundant materials are crucial for green hydrogen production. In this regard, the fabrication of porous films with high light trapping ability and a large contact area is crucial for the production of efficient PEC cells. In this report, anatase TiO2 thin films with a porous double-layered structure were successfully prepared using a conventional spin-coating deposition method. Various amounts of polystyrene spheres were used as a pore-templating agent to control the porosity of the films. A range of characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence were employed to assess the morphology, structural and optical properties of prepared TiO2 films. PEC measurements revealed that prepared double-layered TiO2 thin films exhibit porosity-dependent photocatalytic activity. For example, TiO2 films with an optimized porous structure demonstrated an increase in photocurrent density by a factor of ∼2.23 (to 141.7 μA cm-2) and photoconversion efficiency improvement by a factor of ∼2.14 as compared to non-porous double-layered TiO2 reference films. Absorbance and photoluminescence analysis confirmed that improved PEC activity can be attributed to increased light absorption by the porous structure and reduced charge carrier recombination.

Combined photoanodes of TiO2 nanoparticles and {001}-faceted TiO2 nanosheets for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

A key point for constructing quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) with high efficiency is to improve the utilization of sunlight.

Structural, electrical and optical properties of epitaxial Ta-doped titania films by MOCVD

Epitaxial Ta-doped TiO₂ films deposited via MOCVD were found to exhibit much improved electrical properties compared to the intrinsic TiO₂.