Abstract
The objective of the present study is to synthesize various metal ions mixed TiO2 nanoparticles using a continuous hydrothermal synthesis pilot reactor for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). In the pilot plant, aqueous solutions of the metal salts are mixed with a flow of supercritical water (450 °C and 24.1 MPa) in a confined jet mixer for continuous synthesis of metal ions-mixed nano-titania. Characterization of the particles was made using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique for specific surface area, powder X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy for identification and crystallite size, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for surface analysis and infrared spectroscopy for distinct group identification. Following the already existing procedures and using the titanates synthesized, dye-sensitized cells of 1 cm2 area were assembled and their photovoltaic parameters were evaluated under standard test conditions. The power conversion efficiencies (η %) for 40 mol % Zn2+, 5 mol % Zr4+ and 10 mol % Zn4+ titania were obtained to be 4.8, 4.95 and 4.9, respectively. The promising efficiency results from a greener and large-scale production of nano-titania is a step forward towards commercializing DSC technology.
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