Hydrogen titanate nanotubes for dye sensitized solar cells applications: Experimental and theoretical study. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pignanelli, Fernando; Fernández-Werner, Luciana; Romero, Mariano; Mombrú, Dominique; Tumelero, Milton A.; Pasa, André A.; Germán, Estefanía; Faccio, Ricardo; Mombrú, Álvaro W.
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 106(2018)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Hydrogen titanate nanotubes -- Solar cells -- DFT calculations; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2018.05.029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Photoelectrode made of Hydrogen titanate nanotubes from H2 Ti3 O7 . Solar cell efficiency enhancement from 5.95% to 7.63%. Increase of Voc due to a decrease in the work function on HTNT. Increase of Jsc due to an increase of the specific area of HTNT. Abstract: The existent research literature of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) is mainly focused on the dye but there are very few studies focused in the semiconductor. Here, we present the performance of hydrogen titanate nanotubes (HTNT), showing an enhancement of the solar cell efficiency from 5.95% to 7.63%, respect to anatase as photoelectrode. This enhancement could be explained in terms of open-circuit voltage, directly associated to the value of the HTNT band gap (Eg = 3.3 eV), the relative position of the edge conduction band; and the increase of the short-circuit current, directly associated to the enhancement of the specific area of the photoelectrode. All these characteristics are in very good concordance with our theoretical modelling of the system, based on First Principles calculations. We expect that this system could be further characterized, utilizing different dyes or absorbers, in order to evaluate the potential use of hydrogen titanate nanotubes for solar cell applications.