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Multidimensional Anodized Titanium Foam Photoelectrode for Efficient Utilization of Photons in Mesoscopic Solar Cells
Author(s) -
Kang Jin Soo,
Choi Hyelim,
Kim Jin,
Park Hyeji,
Kim JaeYup,
Choi JungWoo,
Yu SeungHo,
Lee Kyung Jae,
Kang Yun Sik,
Park Sun Ha,
Cho YongHun,
Yum JunHo,
Dunand David C.,
Choe Heeman,
Sung YungEun
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.201701458
Subject(s) - photocurrent , materials science , anodizing , dye sensitized solar cell , mesoscopic physics , photovoltaics , nanotechnology , electrolyte , semiconductor , substrate (aquarium) , titanium oxide , oxide , optoelectronics , transparent conducting film , titanium , solar cell , photovoltaic system , electrode , chemical engineering , composite material , thin film , metallurgy , chemistry , oceanography , engineering , aluminium , quantum mechanics , physics , geology , ecology , biology
Mesoscopic solar cells based on nanostructured oxide semiconductors are considered as a promising candidates to replace conventional photovoltaics employing costly materials. However, their overall performances are below the sufficient level required for practical usages. Herein, this study proposes an anodized Ti foam (ATF) with multidimensional and hierarchical architecture as a highly efficient photoelectrode for the generation of a large photocurrent. ATF photoelectrodes prepared by electrochemical anodization of freeze‐cast Ti foams have three favorable characteristics: (i) large surface area for enhanced light harvesting, (ii) 1D semiconductor structure for facilitated charge collection, and (iii) 3D highly conductive metallic current collector that enables exclusion of transparent conducting oxide substrate. Based on these advantages, when ATF is utilized in dye‐sensitized solar cells, short‐circuit photocurrent density up to 22.0 mA cm −2 is achieved in the conventional N719 dye‐I 3 − /I − redox electrolyte system even with an intrinsically inferior quasi‐solid electrolyte.