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5 years ago

Multidimensional Anodized Titanium Foam Photoelectrode for Efficient Utilization of Photons in Mesoscopic Solar Cells

Multidimensional Anodized Titanium Foam Photoelectrode for Efficient Utilization of Photons in Mesoscopic Solar Cells
Yung-Eun Sung, Jae-Yup Kim, Yun Sik Kang, Jin Kim, Heeman Choe, Seung-Ho Yu, Yong-Hun Cho, Jung-Woo Choi, Jin Soo Kang, David C. Dunand, Kyung Jae Lee, Hyelim Choi, Jun-Ho Yum, Sun Ha Park, Hyeji Park
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-I3−/I− redox electrolyte system even with an intrinsically inferior quasi-solid electrolyte. Multidimensional anodized titanium foams with hierarchical architecture are synthesized and applied as the photoelectrodes in mesoscopic solar cells. 1D TiO2 nanotube arrays on 3D metallic Ti enable efficient light harvesting and charge collection due to their carefully designed structural properties. A remarkable photocurrent density up to 22 mA cm−2 is obtained in dye-sensitized solar cells employing a quasi-solid electrolyte.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/smll.201701458

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