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Cover Picture: A TiO 2 Nanofiber–Carbon Nanotube‐Composite Photoanode for Improved Efficiency in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells (ChemSusChem 20/2015)
Author(s) -
Macdonald Thomas J.,
Tune Daniel D.,
Dewi Melissa R.,
Gibson Christopher T.,
Shapter Joseph G.,
Nann Thomas
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201501206
Subject(s) - nanofiber , materials science , dye sensitized solar cell , titanium dioxide , carbon nanotube , photocurrent , nanotechnology , nanocomposite , composite number , carbon nanofiber , nanoparticle , nanostructure , chemical engineering , composite material , optoelectronics , chemistry , electrode , electrolyte , engineering
The Front Cover image shows the use titanium dioxide nanofibers, electrospun at high quality and integrated carbon nanotubes, forming almost all‐fiber‐based dye‐sensitized solar cells. The scattering layer made up of this composite contains no nanoparticulates and forms a fibrous lawn‐like nanoarchitecture. Remarkably, the integration of carbon nanostructures to nanofiber photoanodes increases the photocurrent conversion efficiency by 67%. This is the first example of a fiber‐based dye‐sensitized solar cell that does not incorporate titanium dioxide nanoparticles, an achievement in itself. This new approach of incorporating one‐dimensional nanostructures offers the potential to enhance the performance of state‐of‐the‐art photovoltaic devices (inorganic and organic).