Abstract
Effective design of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) requires a clear understanding of the reaction mechanisms of the constituent cell materials. The relationship between structural and photo-electrochemical properties of the photo-anodic materials is of the first priority for such investigations. Highly oriented aggregates of anatase phase TiO2 nanoparticles were deposited on Indium Tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates; over which N719 dyes were adsorbed through electrophoretic deposition under a strong magnetic field. The properties were evaluated by electrochemical measurements, UV–VIS spectroscopy, and electrical resistance measurements. The results showed that the absorbed photon number in the TiO2 aggregates with adsorbed dye and their resistivity showed different dependences on the orientation of the crystal plane in the TiO2 particle. The dependence of the photocurrent on the plane orientation of aggregates of dye-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticles has been determined from a combination of the electrical conductivity of TiO2 aggregate and the amount of dye adsorbed on the surface of TiO2.
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Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported in part by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI Initiative) on Materials Nanoarchitechtonics, MEXT, Japan. Dr. A. Islam, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) is acknowledged for the helpful suggestion concerning UV–VIS spectroscopy. Ms. C. Iso and Mr. M. K. Ganesan in NIMS are appreciated for the research assistance. The Materials Analysis Station is granted for the skillful procedures for SEM observation.
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Kawakita, M., Kawakita, J. & Sakka, Y. Material properties controlling photocurrent on TiO2 aggregates with plane orientation for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Nanopart Res 12, 2621–2628 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-009-9841-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-009-9841-5