Hierarchical fabrication of TiO2 nanotubes on 3-D microstructures for enhanced dye-sensitized solar cell photoanode for seamless microsystems integration

Abstract

Surface area plays an important factor in the energy conversion performance of solar cells. It has also emerged as a critical factor in the evolution of high-performance micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and multifunctional microstructures most of which will benefit from integrated on-chip solar power. Presented here is the hierarchical fabrication of TiO2 nanotubes on non-planar 3-dimensional microstructures for enhanced performance of the photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The objective is to increase photoanode performance within a standard 1cm2 lateral footprint area by increasing the vertical surface area through the formation of TiO2 nanotubes on 3-D microstructures. In the interest of the seamless integration of DSCs into MEMS applications, careful attention is given to the processing methods of the 3-D surface enhanced photoanode. Bulk micromachining using wet-etching has been employed to fabricate 3-D microstructures in silicon. Anodization was used to form titania nanotubes within sputtered titanium thin films. Film quality, adhesion, and the formation of the nanotubes are discussed. Nanotubes with outer diameter dimensions of 180nm, inner diameter of 75nm, and heights of 340nm on 15μm2×15μm-deep micro-wells have been fabricated resulting in more than 7times the increase in surface area over planar surfaces and a 20% reduction in surface spectral reflection.