Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Swift sol–gel synthesis of mesoporous anatase-rich TiO2 aggregates via microwave and a lyophilization approach for improved light scattering in DSSCs

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

TiO2 aggregates (TAs) were prepared via combination of facile ‘microwave assisted sol–gel synthesis’ and ‘lyophilization based extraction.’ The rapid hydrolysis followed by peptization of titanium iso-propoxide was carried out under microwave irradiation to form TiO2 hydrosol at temperature as low as 90 °C in just 10 min. Further, lyophilization of the as-synthesized TiO2 hydrosol resulted in the formation of loosely packed TAs. The X-ray diffraction and Raman analysis confirmed the crystallinity of TAs with predominant anatase phase. The transmission electron microscopy images of TAs revealed the interlinked aggregated structure of ~10-nm-sized TiO2 nanoparticles. The scanning electron microscopy images further confirmed the agglomerated structure of TAs with the size ranging from 500 to 1000 nm, which composed of several TiO2 nanoparticles. In addition, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis of TAs revealed its mesoporous structure and high specific surface area of 95 m2/g. The photoanode films fabricated with TAs proved for its better dye intake and superior light scattering owing to its high surface area and comparable size with incident wavelength, respectively, which in turn significantly improves the light-harvesting ability. In comparison with standard P25 nanoparticle-based DSSCs, short circuit photocurrent density (J sc) and photoconversion efficiency of TA-based DSSCs showed improvement up to ~35 % under simulated AM1.5 G illumination (100 mW/cm2).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Green MA, Emery K, Hishikawa Y et al (2015) Solar cell efficiency tables (Version 45). Prog Photovolt Res Appl 23:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Yan J, Saunders BR (2014) Third-generation solar cells: a review and comparison of polymer: fullerene, hybrid polymer and perovskite solar cells. RSC Adv 4:43286–43314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. O’regan B, Grätzel M (1991) Low cost and highly efficient solar cells based on the sensitization of colloidal titanium dioxide. Nature 335:737–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Gonçalves LM, de Zea Bermudez V, Ribeiro HA, Mendes AM (2008) Dye-sensitized solar cells: a safe bet for the future. Energy Environ Sci 1:655–667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ragoussi M-E, Torres T (2015) New generation solar cells: concepts, trends and perspectives. Chem Commun 51:3957–3972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Park K, Zhang Q, Myers D, Cao G (2013) Charge transport properties in TiO2 network with different particle sizes for dye sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 5:1044–1052

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhang S, Yang X, Numata Y, Han L (2013) Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells: progress and future challenges. Energy Environ Sci 6:1443–1464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Cui Y, Zhang L, Lv K et al (2015) Low temperature preparation of TiO2 nanoparticle chains without hydrothermal treatment for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem A 3:4477–4483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Koo H-J, Park J, Yoo B et al (2008) Size-dependent scattering efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cell. Inorg Chim Acta 361:677–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Krishnapriya R, Praneetha S, Murugan AV (2015) Energy-efficient, microwave-assisted hydro/solvothermal synthesis of hierarchical flowers and rice grain-like ZnO nanocrystals as photoanodes for high performance dye-sensitized solar cells. CrystEngComm 17:8353–8367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Li Z-Q, Chen W-C, Guo F-L et al (2015) Mesoporous TiO2 yolk-shell microspheres for dye-sensitized solar cells with a high efficiency exceeding 11%. Sci Rep. doi:10.1038/srep14178

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wang H, Zheng L, Liu C et al (2011) Rapid microwave synthesis of porous TiO2 spheres and their applications in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Phys Chem C 115:10419–10425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Dong Z, Ren H, Hessel CM et al (2014) Quintuple-shelled SnO2 hollow microspheres with superior light scattering for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv Mater 26:905–909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Jiang J, Gu F, Shao W, Li C (2012) Fabrication of spherical multi-hollow TiO2 nanostructures for photoanode film with enhanced light-scattering performance. Ind Eng Chem Res 51:2838–2845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Barbe CJ, Arendse F, Comte P et al (1997) Nanocrystalline titanium oxide electrodes for photovoltaic applications. J Am Ceram Soc 80:3157–3171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hagfeldt A, Boschloo G, Sun L et al (2010) Dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Rev 110:6595–6663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang Q, Myers D, Lan J et al (2012) Applications of light scattering in dye-sensitized solar cells. Phys Chem Chem Phys 14:14982–14998

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Cheng W-Y, Deka JR, Chiang Y-C et al (2012) One-step, surfactant-free hydrothermal method for syntheses of mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticle aggregates and their applications in high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Mater 24:3255–3262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Liu Z, Su X, Hou G et al (2013) Spherical TiO2 aggregates with different building units for dye-sensitized solar cells. Nanoscale 5:8177–8183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang X, Tian J, Fei C et al (2015) Rapid construction of TiO2 aggregates using microwave assisted synthesis and its application for dye-sensitized solar cells. RSC Adv 5:8622–8629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Chou H-T, Tseng K-C, Hsu H-C (2016) Fabrication of deformed TiO2 aggregate as photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells. IEEE J Photovolt 6:211–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Chen X, Mao SS (2007) Titanium dioxide nanomaterials: synthesis, properties, modifications and applications. Chem Rev 107:2891–2959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Yu J, Zhao X, Du J, Chen W (2000) Preparation, microstructure and photocatalytic activity of the porous TiO2 anatase coating by sol–gel processing. J Sol–Gel Sci Technol 17:163–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kim DJ, Hahn SH, Oh SH, Kim EJ (2002) Influence of calcination temperature on structural and optical properties of TiO2 thin films prepared by sol–gel dip coating. Mater Lett 57:355–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Alphonse P, Varghese A, Tendero C (2010) Stable hydrosols for TiO2 coatings. J Sol–Gel Sci Technol 56:250–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Muniz EC, Góes MS, Silva JJ et al (2011) Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous TiO2 nanostructured films prepared by a modified sol–gel method for application in dye solar cells. Ceram Int 37:1017–1024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Isley SL, Penn RL (2006) Relative brookite and anatase content in sol–gel-synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles. J Phys Chem B 110:15134–15139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Bilecka I, Niederberger M (2010) Microwave chemistry for inorganic nanomaterials synthesis. Nanoscale 2:1358–1374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Dar MI, Chandiran AK, Grätzel M et al (2014) Controlled synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles and nanospheres using a microwave assisted approach for their application in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem A 2:1662–1667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Baghbanzadeh M, Carbone L, Cozzoli PD, Kappe CO (2011) Microwave-assisted synthesis of colloidal inorganic nanocrystals. Angew Chem Int Ed 50:11312–11359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Ding K, Miao Z, Liu Z et al (2007) Facile synthesis of high quality TiO2 nanocrystals in ionic liquid via a microwave-assisted process. J Am Chem Soc 129:6362–6363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Wilson GJ, Matijasevich AS, Mitchell DRG et al (2006) Modification of TiO2 for enhanced surface properties: finite Ostwald ripening by a microwave hydrothermal process. Langmuir 22:2016–2027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Pai KRN, Anjusree GS, Deepak TG et al (2014) High surface area TiO2 nanoparticles by a freeze-drying approach for dye-sensitized solar cells. RSC Adv 4:36821–36827

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Zhang H, Banfield JF (2000) Understanding polymorphic phase transformation behavior during growth of nanocrystalline aggregates: insights from TiO2. J Phys Chem B 104:3481–3487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Gribb AA, Banfield JF (1997) Particle size effects on transformation kinetics and phase stability in nanocrystalline TiO2. Am Mineral 82:717–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Zhang J, Li M, Feng Z et al (2006) UV Raman spectroscopic study on TiO2. I. Phase transformation at the surface and in the bulk. J Phys Chem B 110:927–935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Gupta SK, Desai R, Jha PK et al (2009) Titanium dioxide synthesized using titanium chloride: size effect study using Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence. J Raman Spectrosc 41:350–355

    Google Scholar 

  38. Golubović A, Šćepanović M, Kremenović A et al (2009) Raman study of the variation in anatase structure of TiO2 nanopowders due to the changes of sol–gel synthesis conditions. J Sol–Gel Sci Technol 49:311–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Oskam G, Nellore A, Penn RL, Searson PC (2003) The growth kinetics of TiO2 nanoparticles from titanium (IV) alkoxide at high water/titanium ratio. J Phys Chem B 107:1734–1738

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Vorkapic D, Matsoukas T (1999) Reversible agglomeration: a kinetic model for the peptization of titania nanocolloids. J Colloid Interface Sci 214:283–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Bischoff BL, Anderson MA (1995) Peptization process in the sol–gel preparation of porous anatase (TiO2). Chem Mater 7:1772–1778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Shaikh SF, Mane RS, Min BK et al (2016) d-Sorbitol-induced phase control of TiO2 nanoparticles and its application for dye-sensitized solar cells. Sci Rep. doi:10.1038/srep20103

    Google Scholar 

  43. Xu Q, Anderson MA (1991) Synthesis of porosity controlled ceramic membranes. J Mater Res 6:1073–1081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Gao R, Liang Z, Tian J et al (2013) ZnO nanocrystallite aggregates synthesized through interface precipitation for dye-sensitized solar cells. Nano Energy 2:40–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Lei BX, Zeng LL, Zhang P et al (2014) Sugar apple-shaped TiO2 hierarchical spheres for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. J Power Sources 253:269–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Lei B-X, Zhang P, Qiao H-K et al (2014) A facile template-free route for synthesis of anatase TiO2 hollow spheres for dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 143:129–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Magne C, Cassaignon S, Lancel G, Pauporté T (2011) Brookite TiO2 nanoparticle films for dye-sensitized solar cells. ChemPhysChem 12:2461–2467

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Science and Engineering Research Board, Govt. of INDIA through young scientist Project under the Grant no. SR/FT/CS-164/2011 dated 04-12-2012. D.N.J is grateful to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the fellowship. The authors also acknowledge ‘Central Instrumental Facility,’ Inter-disciplinary Program in Life Science (IPLS) and ‘Department of Bio-technology,’ Pondicherry University for characterization and sample processing facility. The authors are grateful to Dr. C. Sudakar, Associate Professor, and his postdoctoral researcher Dr. P. IIaiyaraja, Multifunctional Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, IIT Madras, India, for their contribution towards IPCE measurement.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Energy Materials and Sustainability, Madanjeet School of Green Energy Technologies, Centre for Green Energy Technology, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry, 605014, India

    Dhavakumar N. Joshi, S. Sudhakar, Radhika V. Nair & R. Arun Prasath

Authors
  1. Dhavakumar N. Joshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Sudhakar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Radhika V. Nair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Arun Prasath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Arun Prasath.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Joshi, D.N., Sudhakar, S., Nair, R.V. et al. Swift sol–gel synthesis of mesoporous anatase-rich TiO2 aggregates via microwave and a lyophilization approach for improved light scattering in DSSCs. J Mater Sci 52, 2308–2318 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0523-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0523-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation