Monodisperse mesoporous TiO2 microspheres for dye sensitized solar cells. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Tao; Luo, Wei; Deng, Yonghui; Luo, Yongfeng; Xu, Pengcheng; Liu, Yong; Wang, Lianjun; Ren, Yuan; Jiang, Wan
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 26(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Mesoporous materials -- Titania -- Confinement -- Interface assembly -- Dye-sensitized solar cells; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.04.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Uniform discrete mesoporous titania microspheres have been synthesized via a facile and controllable interface-directed co-assembly approach by using 3-dimensional macroporous carbon (3DOMC) as the nanoreactor for the confined co-assembly of template molecules and titania source. By adjusting the synthesis parameters, hollow mesoporous microspheres and hemi-microspheres can also be synthesized. The obtained mesoporous TiO2 microspheres possess a large pore size (4.7 nm), high accessible surface area (145 m 2 /g), large pore volume (0.26 cm 3 /g) and highly crystallized anatase pore walls. The dye-sensitized solar cell based on the mesoporous TiO2 microspheres exhibits high photoconversion efficiencies up to 8.5%, which are largely attributed to their intrinsic high surface area, high porosity and well-connected crystalline framework. Graphical abstract: Monodisperse mesoporous TiO2 microspheres: uniform discrete mesoporous titania microspheres with high surface area and high crystalline framework have been synthesized via a facile and controllable interface-directed coassembly (IDCA) approach for dye sensitized solar cells with a high photoconversion efficiency of 8.5%. Highlights: Monodisperse ordered mesoporous TiO2 microspheres with large mesopores, high surface areas and highly crystallized framework were synthesized through a novel confinement synthesis method. The morphology of the mesoporous TiO2 materials can be well tuned from solid mesoporous microspheres to hemi-microspheres and even to hollow mesoporous microspheres. High photoconversion efficiencies up to 8.5% have been achieved by using the obtained mesoporous titania microspheres.