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Titania nanocomposite films derived by modified sol-gel process for photovoltaic application

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Abstract

Titania nanocomposite films were fabricated by spin-coating from sol-gel derived pastes of TiO2 powder in titanium isopropoxide sol. The thin films were characterized for structural, optical and hydrophilic properties and evaluated as electrodes in a photoelectrochemical cell. Addition of TiO2 powder increased film thickness, reduced transmittance, water contact angle and electrochemical impedance, and promoted photocurrent generation. Increasing Triton X-100 surfactant loading in the composite slurry influenced film texture and transmittance, and the resultant films exhibited a lower photocurrent yield but were more hydrophilic to favor charge transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The aggregation of TiO2 particles of different sizes in the composite film facilitates light-scattering and electron transport to enhance quantum efficiency. The addition of Triton X-100 surfactant influences the distribution of scattering centers to increase transparency.

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Acknowledgments

This work is financially supported by The National Science Council in Taiwan under grant number NSC 98-2221-E-224-032.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123 University Road, Section 3, Douliou, Yunlin 640, Taiwan, ROC

    Chien-Tsung Wang & Chen-Feng Yen

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  1. Chien-Tsung Wang
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  2. Chen-Feng Yen
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Correspondence to Chien-Tsung Wang.

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Wang, CT., Yen, CF. Titania nanocomposite films derived by modified sol-gel process for photovoltaic application. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 61, 83–89 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-011-2594-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-011-2594-5

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