A TiO2 Nanofiber-Carbon Nanotube-Composite Photoanode for Improved Efficiency in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

ChemSusChem. 2015 Oct 26;8(20):3396-400. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201500945. Epub 2015 Sep 18.

Abstract

A light-scattering layer fabricated from electrospun titanium dioxide nanofibers (TiO2 -NFs) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) formed a fiber-based photoanode. The nanocomposite scattering layer had a lawn-like structure and integration of carbon nanotubes into the NF photoanodes increased the power conversion efficiency from 2.9 % to 4.8 % under 1 Sun illumination. Under reduced light intensity (0.25 Sun), TiO2 -NF and TiO2 -NF/SWCNT-based DSSCs reached PCE values of up to 3.7 % and 6.6 %, respectively.

Keywords: dye-sensitized solar cells; energy conversion; nanofibers; nanotubes; titanium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coloring Agents / chemistry
  • Electric Power Supplies
  • Electrodes
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Solar Energy
  • Sunlight
  • Titanium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium