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Ellipsoidal TiO 2 Hierarchitectures with Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance
Author(s) -
Peng Wenqin,
Yanagida Masatoshi,
Chen Han,
Han Liyuan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201102975
Subject(s) - nanorod , materials science , anatase , hydrothermal circulation , nanocrystalline material , dye sensitized solar cell , chemical engineering , photovoltaic system , energy conversion efficiency , nanotechnology , layer (electronics) , electrode , light scattering , photocatalysis , optoelectronics , scattering , optics , chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , physics , engineering , electrolyte , biology , catalysis
Hierarchical TiO 2 ellipsoids 250–500 nm in size have been synthesized on a large scale by a template‐free hydrothermal route. The submicrometer‐sized hierarchitectures are assembled from highly crystallized anatase nanorods about 17 nm in diameter with macroporous cavities on the outer shells. Based on the time‐dependent morphological evolution under hydrothermal conditions, an oriented attachment process is proposed to explain formation of the hierarchical structures. Such hierarchical TiO 2 not only adsorbs large amounts of dye molecules due to high surface area, but also shows good light scattering caused by the submicrometer size. The TiO 2 hierarchitectures were deposited on top of a transparent TiO 2 nanocrystalline main layer to construct a double‐layered photoanode for dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSC) application, exhibiting enhanced light harvesting and power‐conversion efficiency compared to a commercial TiO 2 ‐based electrode.