Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance by Surface Modification of TiO2 Nanorods with Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS)

Abstract

Modification of TiO2 nanorods through the addition of aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) for enhancement of efficiency of solar cells has been studied. Synthesis of TiO2 nanorods was conducted through two major stages of mechanochemical and hydrothermal refluxing at a temperature of 120 °C for 24 hours on various concentration of NaOH. Material characterizations were performed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourrier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Mechanochemical treatment by ball milling showed that the TiO2 phase changed from anatase into brookite and it decreased of TiO2 crystals size. Morphology transformation of TiO2 to form TiO2 nanorods was showed by rod-shaped from TEM micrographs which are characteristic of the nanorods. FTIR spectra confirmed that amine group of aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) were successfully grafted onto the TiO2 nanorods surface. Sensitization of TiO2 used Ruthenium complexes N3 (N3=cis-bis(isothiocyanato) bis(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato ruthenium (II)) were able to increase the uptake of TiO2 material to the visible region due to the absorption of visible light by N3 complex-APTMS. Sensitized TiO2 nanorods were prepared for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSCs) photoanode. The maximum results of the DSSCs (Dye Sensitized Solar Cell) performance was showed that TiO2 material modified by 10 % (v/v) APTMS capable increase efficiency of DSSCs.