Investigation of the morphology based properties of multidimensional titanate nanostructures for application as proficient photo anodes. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: V.Chandrakala, ; Bachan, Neena; Naveen Kumar, P.; Pugazhendhi, K.; Praveen, B.; Tenkyong, Tenzin; Merline Shyla, J.
• Is Part Of: Materials today. Volume 9:Part 2(2019)
• Page Start: 217
• Page End: 236
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: Titanate nanoparticles -- Nanorods -- Nanoflowers -- HR TEM -- Field dependent dark and Photocurrent studies; Materials science -- Congresses -- Periodicals; 620.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2019.02.154
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7853

Abstract

Abstract: We present a detailed examination on the microstructural, structural, optical and electrical properties of one dimensional (1D) and three dimensional (3D) titania nanostructures in comparison with zero dimensional (0D) titania nanoparticles. Material characterization by X-ray Diffraction technique confirms the formation of anatase phased TiO2 nanoparticles and rutile phased nanorods and nanoflowers. Morphological investigations were done with Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy. Optical properties of the samples were studied using UV-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy and their optical band gap energies were calculated using Kubelka-Monk method. Although the 1D nanorods possess faster electron transport than the nanoparticle structure, their low surface area has detained that morphology to absorb more incident radiation. However, the 3D nanoflower morphology coupled with excellent light scattering capability and enhanced optical absorption resulted in a 7 fold increase in dark and 26 fold increase in photocurrents compared to nanorod and nanoparticles. Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) are developed using Safranine O dye and their I-V characteristics were examined. Improved performance of DSSC is observed in the case 3D nanoflower structures delivering efficiency of about 3.56 %. The findings of this work essentially suggest that the optical transport properties of the photoanode materials and therefore cell performances are significantly influenced by their respective morphologies.