Application of anodic titanium oxide to dye-sensitized solar cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using anodized titanium oxide. An aqueous solution of 0.5 wt % HF was used for the electrolyte and platinum plate was used for the counter electrode in the anodizing process at a voltage of 20 V. We obtained well-arranged titanium oxide nanotubes with diameters of 80-150 nm. The anodic titanium was coated with the dye (Ruthenium 535 bis-TBA). A dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated with Iodolyte PMI-50 (Solaronix™) as the electrolyte and a Pt (200 nm)/ Ti (50 nm)/ glass substrate as the counter electrode. The short circuit current (I_sc), open circuit voltage (V_oc), fill factor (FF) and energy conversion efficiency of this cell were 0.54 mA/cm², 0.103 V, 39 % and 0.0022%, respectively. When a current density of 2.0×10^-3 mA/cm ² was applied to the titanium oxide electrode, the I_sc, V_oc, FF and energy conversion efficiency were 0.24 mA/cm ²,0.675 V, 30 % and 0.050 %, respectively. When the cells were coated with the dye and current was applied, the I_sc, V_oc, FF and energy conversion efficiency were 0.88 mA/cm²,0.54 V, 24 % and 0.11 %, respectively.