Skip to main content
Log in

Preparation and photoelectrochemical performance of TiO2/Ag2Se interface composite film

  • Published:
Science in China Series B: Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Coupling TiO2 with a narrow band gap semiconductor acting as the photosensitizer has attracted much attention in solar energy exploitation. In this work, the porous TiO2 film was first formed on the conducting glass plate (CGP) substrate by the decomposition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) mixing in titanium hydroxide sol at 450°C. Then, the TiO2/Ag2Se interface composite film was fabricated by interface reaction of AgNO3 with NaSeSO3 on the activated surface of porous TiO2 film. The results of SEM and XRD analyses indicated that the porous TiO2 layer was made up of the anatase crystal, and the Ag2Se layer was made up of congregative small particles that have low-temperature α-phase structure. Due to its efficient charge separation for the photo-induced electron-hole pairs, the TiO2/Ag2Se interface composite film as-prepared has good photovoltaic property and high photocurrent response for visible light, which have been confirmed by the photoelectrochemical measurements.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kamat P V. Photochemistry on nonreactive and reactive (semiconductor) surfaces. Chem Rev, 1993, 93: 267–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wang C, Wang T M, Zheng S K. Investigation of the photoreactivity of nanocrystalline TiO2 thin film by ion-implantation technique. Physica E, 2002, 14: 242–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. O’Regan B, Grätzel M. A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature, 1991, 353: 737–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Gebeyehu D, Brabec C J, Sariciftci N S. Solid-state organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells based on conjugated polymers and dye-sensitized TiO2 electrodes. Thin Solid Films, 2002, 403–404: 271–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Biancardo M, West K, Krebs F C. Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells: Pt and PEDOT:PSS counter electrodes applied to gel electrolyte assemblies. J Photochem Photobio A, 2007, 187: 395–401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Thimsen E, Rastgar N, Biswas P. Nanostructured TiO2 films with controlled morphology synthesized in a single step process: Performance of dye-sensitized solar cells and photo watersplitting. J Phys Chem C, 2008, 112: 4134–4140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Vogel R, Pohl K, Weller H. Sensitization of highly porous, polycrystalline TiO2 electrodes by quantum sized CdS. Chem Phys Lett, 1990, 174: 241–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ennaoui A, Fiechter S. Photoelectrochemical energy conversion obtained with ultrathin organo-metallic-chemical-vapor-deposition layer of FeS2 (Pyrite) on TiO2. J Electrochem Soc, 1992, 139: 2514–2518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hotchandaui S, Kamat P V. Charge-transfer processes in coupled semiconductor systems. Photochemistry and photoelectrochemistry of the colloidal cadmium sulfide-zinc oxide system. J Phys Chem, 1992, 96: 6834–6839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cao Y, Zhang X, Yang W. Bicomponent TiO2/SnO2 particulate film for photocatalysis. Chem Mater, 2000, 12: 3445–3448

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bandara J, Hadapangoda C C, Jayasekera W G. TiO2/MgO composite photocatalyst: The role of MgO in photoinduced charge carrier separation. Appl Catal B: Environ, 2004, 50: 83–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ho W, Yu J C. Sonochemical synthesis and visible light photocatalytic behavior of CdSe and CdSe/TiO2 nanoparticles. J Mol Catal A: Chem, 2006, 247: 268–274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Niitsoo O, Sarkar S K, Pejoux C. Chemical bath deposited CdS/CdSe-sensitized porous TiO2 solar cells. J Photochem Photobio A, 2006, 181: 306–313

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Toyoda T, Tsuboya I, Shen Q. Effect of rutile-type content on nanostructured anatase-type TiO2 electrode sensitized with CdSe quantum dots characterized with photoacoustic and photoelectrochemical current spectroscopies. Mat Sci Eng C, 2005, 25: 853–857

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Shen Q, Katayama K, Yamaguchi M. Study of ultrafast carrier dynamics of nanostructured TiO2 films with and without CdSe quantum dot deposition using lens-free heterodyne detection transient grating technique. Thin Solid Films, 2005, 486: 15–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Rincón M E, Gómez-Daza O, Corripio C. Sensitization of screen-printed and spray-painted TiO2 coatings by chemically deposited CdSe thin films. Thin Solid Films, 2001, 389: 91–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Wijayantha K G U, Peter L M, Otley L C. Fabrication of CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells via a pressing route. Sol Energ Mat Sol C, 2004, 83: 363–369

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Biswas S, Hossain M F, Takahashi T. Fabrication of Grätzel solar cell with TiO2/CdS bilayered photoelectrode. Thin Solid Films 2008, 517: 1284–1288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Pawar S J, Chikode P P. Studies on electrodeposited silver selenide thin film by double exposure holographic interferometry. Mat Sci Eng B, 2007, 137: 232–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Grientschnig D, Sitte W. Interpretation of ionic transport properties of some silver chalcogenides. J Phys Chem Solids, 1991, 52: 805–820

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Daleven R, Gill R. Electrical properties of β-Ag2Te and β-Ag2Se from 4.2 to 300K. J Appl Phys, 1967, 38: 753–756

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Beck G, Janek J. Negative and linear positive magnetoresistance effect in silver-rich silver selenide. Solid State Sci, 2008, 10: 776–789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Cui Y, Chen G, Ren J. Solvothermal syntheses of β-Ag2Se crystals with novel morphologies. J Solid State Chem, 2003, 172: 17–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Grønvold F, Stølen S, Semenov Y. Heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of silver(I) selenide, oP-Ag2Se from 300 to 406 K and of cI-Ag2Se from 406 to 900 K: Transitional behavior and formation properties. Thermochim Acta, 2003, 399: 213–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Gates B, Wu Y, Yang P. Single-crystalline nanowires of Ag2Se can be synthesized by templating against nanowires of trigonal Se. J Am Chem Soc, 2001, 123: 11500–11501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Pawar S J, Chikode P P, Fulari V J, Dongare M B. Studies on electrodeposited silver selenide thin film by double exposure holographic interferometry. Mat Sci Eng B, 2007, 137: 232–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Li D P, Zheng Z, Shui Z Y, Long M Q. Using elemental Se and Ag to grow pure Ag2Se dendrites/dendritic-films of highly oriented (001) nanocrystals. J Phys Chem C, 2008, 112: 2845–2850

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Wang M R, Jia J G. The effect of pretreatment on the photoelectrochemical properties of CdS sensitized TiO2 nanocrystalline electrodes. J Beijing Univ Chem Tech, 2007, 34: 85–88

    Google Scholar 

  29. Robel I, Subramanian V, Kuno M. Quantum dot solar cells. Harvesting light energy with CdSe nanocrystals molecularly linked to mesoscopic TiO2 films. J Am Chem Soc, 2006, 128: 2385–2393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Gerischer H, Luebke M. A particle size effect in the sensitization of TiO2 electrodes by a CdS deposit. J Electroanal Chem, 1986, 204: 225–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Nozik A J, Memming R. Physical chemistry of semiconductor-liquid interfaces. J Phys Chem, 1996, 100: 13061–13078

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to ShengYi Zhang.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20875001, 20775001, 50532030 & 20771001) and Innovation Foundation of Anhui Province (Grant No. 2006KJ007TD)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhao, J., Jiang, B., Zhang, S. et al. Preparation and photoelectrochemical performance of TiO2/Ag2Se interface composite film. Sci. China Ser. B-Chem. 52, 2213–2218 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-009-0143-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-009-0143-7

Keywords

Navigation