Synthesis of hierarchical TiO₂ micro/nanostructure and its application in hybrid solar cell

Chen, Ruiqiang; Wang, Mingtai

Synthesis of hierarchical TiO₂ micro/nanostructure and its application in hybrid solar cell

2012

Chen, Ruiqiang | Wang, Mingtai

Hierarchically micro/nanostructured rutile TiO₂ is prepared by a convenient hydrothermal reaction, and characterized by XRD, SEM, and TEM (HR-TEM). The hierarchical TiO₂ micro/nanostructure is highly branched and consists of a three-dimensional assembly of TiO₂ nanorods. Based on the experimental evidences, a mechanism involving three growth stages is proposed for formation of the hierarchical TiO₂ micro/nanostructure. The first stage is the nucleation and growth of rutile TiO₂ trunk nanorods along [001] direction, the second stage is the nucleation and growth of TiO₂ branch nanorods at the defect sites created by HCl corrosion on the preformed trunk surfaces, and the third stage is the continuous growth of hierarchically nanostructured TiO₂ through Ostwald ripening process where some nanobranches grow larger with time accompanied by sub-branches growth and a number of smaller nanobranches disappear. Results show that the hierarchical TiO₂ micro/nanostructure is a potential photovoltaic material.

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