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Ordered Single‐Crystalline Anatase TiO 2 Nanorod Clusters Planted on Graphene for Fast Charge Transfer in Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells
Author(s) -
Wang Yang,
Liu Xueqin,
Li Zhen,
Cao Ya,
Li Yinchang,
Liu Xupo,
Jia Songru,
Zhao Yanli
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201700793
Subject(s) - materials science , anatase , nanorod , graphene , nanotechnology , nanostructure , dye sensitized solar cell , electrode , energy conversion efficiency , chemical engineering , photocatalysis , optoelectronics , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering , electrolyte , catalysis
Achieving efficient charge transport is a great challenge in nanostructured TiO 2 ‐electrode‐based photoelectrochemical cells. Inspired by excellent directional charge transport and the well‐known electroconductibility of 1D anatase TiO 2 nanostructured materials and graphene, respectively, planting ordered, single‐crystalline anatase TiO 2 nanorod clusters on graphene sheets (rGO/ATRCs) via a facial one‐pot solvothermal method is reported. The hierarchical rGO/ATRCs nanostructure can serve as an efficient light‐harvesting electrode for dye‐sensitized solar cells. In addition, the obtained high‐crystallinity anatase TiO 2 nanorods in rGO/ATRCs possess a lower density of trap states, thus facilitating diffusion‐driven charge transport and suppressing electron recombination. Moreover, the novel architecture significantly enhances the trap‐free charge diffusion coefficient, which contributes to superior electron mobility properties. By virtue of more efficient charge transport and higher energy conversion efficiency, the rGO/ATRCs developed in this work show significant advantages over conventional rGO–TiO 2 nanoparticle counterparts in photoelectrochemical cells.