Hydrothermal steam induced crystallization synthesis of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with high photovoltaic response

• We proposed a novel route to prepare TiO2 nanoparticles.
• The route can simplify the entire process involved in conventional sol–gel method.
• The sample exhibits pure phase, narrow size distribution and large surface area.
• The sample shows better photovoltaic response that commercial TiO2 P25.

Well-crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with narrow size distribution have been prepared by simple hydrothermal steam induced crystallization method (HSICM). XRD analysis revealed that the sample exhibited pure anatase phase with tetragonal structure, which was also confirmed by the information obtained from HRTEM analysis. The N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm and XPS analysis demonstrated the existence of nanoporosity and oxygen vacancies within the sample, and its surface area could reach as high as 121.50 m2/g. The following J–V, IPCE, EIS solar cell measurement results indicated that the sample used as photoanode materials in dye-sensitized solar cells showed greater photovoltaic response than commercial TiO2 P25.

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