Nanocrystalline TiO2 Powder Prepared by Sol-Gel Method for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

In this study titanium dioxide nanopowder has been manufactured and examined. Nanocrystalline TiO2 powder has been obtained by hydrolysis and peptization of a solution of titanium isopropoxide and isopropanol. Subsequently, produced powder has been subjected to structural analysis by using a transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffractometer, and Raman spectrometer. For comparison purposes, a commercially available titanium dioxide powder (i.e. titanium white) was also used. Thin layers have been made from this powder and further have been examined by using a UV/VIS spectrometer. Completed research shows the nanocrystalline structure of obtained layers and their good properties such as absorbance at the range of wavelength equal 200 - 1000 nm.

Keywords

• sol-gel
• nanopowder
• titanium dioxide
• dye-sensitized solar cell