Hydrothermal growth of ligand-passivated high-surface-area TiO2 nanoparticles and dye-sensitized solar cell characteristics

Size-controlled anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with high surface area were prepared by hydrothermal growth using triethylamine (TEA) as a surface passivating agent. The TEA-capped TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited high surface area of 93 m2 g−1. Ligand passivation on the TiO2 nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and significant UV–visible absorption was detected. The synthesized TEA-capped TiO2 nanoparticles were used to prepare a dye-sensitized solar cell photoanode by the spray deposition technique. A cell efficiency of 4.56% was achieved.