Alumina Template Assistance in Titania Nanotubes Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell ( NT-DSSC) Device Fabrication

Abstract

In our previous works, we have made alumina template films and used it for nanowire, nanowhisk, and nanosphere fabrication and molecular aggregation studies. In the present paper, we have combined Al2O3 template and titania (TiO2) NT fabrication processes to achieve an Al2O3/TiO2 NT dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices. The DSSC structure includes glass substrate, transparent conductive film of ITO, Pt particles serving as the counter electrode, Al2O3/TiO2 NT film, dye, and ITO serving as the working electrode, and the electrolyte is injected into the counter-working interface. Al2O3 template was made by anodization and TiO2 NT was made by sol-gel deposition into Al2O3 template. Al2O3 template has a light, transparence, large surface, good mechanical strength, and flexibility, making it a candidate material for DSSC electrode template. TiO2 NT is a semiconductor with an energy gap that matches up very nicely with N3 sensitized dye.