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Rutile TiO2-modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes in TiO2 film electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

The beneficial influence of incorporation of acid-treated and rutile TiO2 (r-TiO2)-modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in TiO2 films on photocurrent–voltage characteristics of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was studied. Two different routes were adopted for the modification of acid-treated MWNTs (a-MWNTs) with r-TiO2. The films and MWNTs were characterized by electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, XRD and Raman spectroscopy. In the case of incorporation of a-MWNTs with r-TiO2 modification, short-circuit photocurrent (J sc) of the pertinent DSSC increased by 35% compared with that of a cell with bare TiO2 film. The open-circuit voltage remained almost the same for all cases. The enhanced J sc is explained by the increased surface area of the film, enhanced cluster formation of TiO2 particles around a-MWNTs, and improved interconnectivity of TiO2 particles in the presence of a-MWNTs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Innovative Cluster Program of Seoul and by the Sol-Gel Innovation Project of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy in Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 136-713, Korea

    Sun Lae Kim, Song-Rim Jang, R. Vittal & Kang-Jin Kim

  2. Samsung SDI, Co. Ltd., Gyeonggi-Do, 449-577, Korea

    Jiwon Lee

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  1. Sun Lae Kim
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  2. Song-Rim Jang
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  3. R. Vittal
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Correspondence to Kang-Jin Kim.

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Kim, S.L., Jang, SR., Vittal, R. et al. Rutile TiO2-modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes in TiO2 film electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Appl Electrochem 36, 1433–1439 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-006-9238-4

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