Fabrication and characterization of TiO2 nanotubes dye-sensitized solar cells by anodization method

Titanium dioxide nanotube were synthesized and used to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells. Anodization method was used to prepare TiO2 nanotubes. The anodization conditions include the effect of pH values and anodization voltages. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-visible Spectrometer were used to characterize of the prepared samples. The phase of TiO2 nanotubes is anatase and the diameters of the tubes are in the range of 90 nm-200 nm corresponding with 40, 50, 60 and 70 V, respectively. The specimens were used as working electrodes for making dye-sensitized solar cells. The measurements of the I-V characteristic curves were carried out by using eDAQ potentiostat. The photoconversion efficiencies of dye-sensitized solar cells made of the working electrodes obtained from of 40, 50, 60 and 70 V were 4.21%, 4.77%, 6.10% and 6.89%, respectively, under irradiation of 60 mW/cm2.