Preparation of mesoporous nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 for dye sensitized solar cell application

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) introduced by Prof.M.Gratzel is a low cost alternative to the existing silicon based solar cells. Solar light conversion efficiency of the current DSSC can be further improved by replacing the conventional anatase TiO2 having lesser surface area with mesoporous high surface area anatase TiO2. This paper describes the sol-gel synthesis of mesoporous high surface area nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 by the controlled hydrolysis and condensation of titanium isopropoxide followed by heat treatment. XRD reveals that xerogel heat treated at 500°C is phase pure anatase. Crystallite size of prepared anatase TiO2 calculated using Scherrer equation was found to be 15 nm. BET analysis of prepared anatase TiO2 exhibited relatively high specific surface area of 97 m2/g, which is found to be almost double to that of the anatase TiO2 generally used for DSSC photo anode fabrication. The pore size distribution (BJH plot) also revealed the mesoporous nature of prepared anatase TiO2 having an average pore size of 7.4 nm.