The Investigation of the Impact of Double-anodization on the Performance of TiO2 Nanotubes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

In this research, we have synthesized TiO₂ nanotubes on titanium metal substrates by DC anodization at 50 V to be used as working electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The TiO₂ nanotubes were fabricated in an electrolyte consisting of ethylene glycol, ammonium fluoride and deionized water for 3 hours. DSSCs were assembled by sandwiching the N719 dye - coated TiO₂ nanotubes electrode and transparent conducting oxide glass electrode. We investigated the impact of heat treatment and double-anodization on the performance of the titania nanotubes in the dye sensitized solar cells. The performance of the double-anodization TiO₂ nanotubes greatly reduces when compared with single anodization in DSSCs from 3.36% down to 0.88%. The performance of anodization without heat treatment  also reduces to 1.95%. The mechanism of electron - hole pairs was favor and transits from TiO₂ nanotubes arrays to the oxide layer. The crack and destroyed pore tubes on these specimens appeared by double-anodization. Hence, the low performance of the dye sensitized solar cells was found in this experiment.