Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical properties of a compact titanium dioxide layer

In this paper, we report on the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties of a compact titanium dioxide layer as well as its application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The compact TiO2 layer, which was prepared via a facile approach by the hydrolysis of TiCl4 aqueous solution, has been characterized by XRD, SEM, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Experimental results show that the compact TiO2 layer with the thickness of about 100 nm is composed of anatase-phase nanoparticles with the particle size of 10–15 nm. Impedance measurements display that the compact layer of TiO2 can prevent the back reaction of electrons with tri-iodide ions under low applied potentials, increase the open circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF), and finally improve the conversion efficiency (η) for the DSCs from 7.5 to 8.1%.

Graphical abstractA compact TiO2 layer with the thickness of about 100 nm was prepared by the hydrolysis of TiCl4 aqueous solution. The compact TiO2 layer can prevent the back reaction of electrons with tri-iodide ions under lower applied potentials, increase the open circuit voltage and fill factor, and improve the conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells from 7.5 to 8.1%. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide