Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Conductive Glass Research Articles

Optical Transmittance, Electrical Resistivity and Microstructural Characteristics of Undoped and Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Conductive Glass Fabricated by Spray Pyrolysis Technique with Modified Ultrasonic Nebulizer

Optical Transmittance, Electrical Resistivity and Microstructural Characteristics of Undoped and Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Conductive Glass Fabricated by Spray Pyrolysis Technique with Modified Ultrasonic Nebulizer

Preparation and characterisation of TiO2 nanorod and nanotube films as photoanodes for dye-sensitised solar cells

TiO2 nanorod arrays are successfully synthesised on the transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide glass through a facile one-step solvothermal route without any surfactant and template, TiO2 nanotube arrays were obtained through acid etching afterwards. Dye-sensitised solar cells based on these two different one-dimensional TiO2 photoelectrodes show the power conversion efficiency of 1.68 and 3.89% for nanorod and nanotube cells, respectively. The nanotube cell has better photoelectric performance than nanorod cell because of lower recombination, faster electron transformation, higher specific surface area for adsorbing more dye molecules and superior light scattering capacity for boosting the light-harvesting efficiency.

Rational design of anatase TiO2 architecture with hierarchical nanotubes and hollow microspheres for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells

Large surface area, sufficient light-harvesting and superior electron transport property are the major factors for an ideal photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which requires rational design of the nanoarchitectures and smart integration of state-of-the-art technologies. In this work, a 3D anatase TiO2 architecture consisting of vertically aligned 1D hierarchical TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) with ultra-dense branches (HTNTs, bottom layer) and 0D hollow TiO2 microspheres with rough surface (HTS, top layer) is first successfully constructed on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide glass through a series of facile processes. When used as photoanodes, the DSSCs achieve a very large short-current density of 19.46 mA cm−2 and a high overall power conversion efficiency of 8.38%. The remarkable photovoltaic performance is predominantly ascribed to the enhanced charge transport capacity of the NTs (function as the electron highway), the large surface area of the branches (act as the electron branch lines), the pronounced light harvesting efficiency of the HTS (serve as the light scattering centers), and the engineered intimate interfaces between all of them (minimize the recombination effect). Our work demonstrates a possibility of fabricating superior photoanodes for high-performance DSSCs by rational design of nanoarchitectures and smart integration of multi-functional components.

High-quality self-ordered TiO2 nanotubes on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass

High quality self-ordered TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) were grown on a conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide glass by anodization of titanium thin film. The result showed that high density Ti film with good adhesion was obtained by direct current magenetron sputtering at 200 °C. The dependence of morphology of TNTs on anodization time was investigated by scanning electron microscope. The crystal structure of TNTs was transformed from amorphous to anatase as a result of the annealing at 500 °C for 180 min. The influences of anodization time on the crystallization of nanotubes also were investigated. The proposed low cost method for fabricating TNTs provides an approach to enhance the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Photovoltaic effect of a bilayer film with Bi4Ti3O12/BiFeO3 heterostructure

Bi4Ti3O12/BiFeO3 (BTO/BFO) heterostructure bilayer film is prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass by a sol–gel process. The X-ray diffraction result shows that no additional phase can be found besides the characteristic diffraction peaks of BTO and BFO. Piezoelectric force microscopy measurement confirms the complete domain switching and local ferroelectric nature. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current density of the bilayer film are measured to be about 0.38V and −56.24µAcm−2, respectively, higher than those of the BTO. The BTO/BFO film exhibits repeatable and stable instantaneous response of photocurrent. A theoretical band diagram model combining p–n heterostructure with ferroelectric polarization is constructed to describe the mechanism of photovoltaic enhancement of the film.

Hierarchical TiO2 nanoflowers/nanosheets array film: synthesis, growth mechanism and enhanced photoelectrochemical properties

The possible growth mechanism of a hierarchical TiO2 nanoflower/nanosheet array was is presented. The TiO2 NFSs array film perpendicularly grown on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrates was prepared via a one-step template-free hydrothermal method.

A high performance quasi-solid-state self-powered UV photodetector based on TiO2 nanorod arrays.

Self-powered UV photodetectors based on TiO2 and ZnO nanorod arrays have attracted lots of attention in recent years due to their various advantages. Impressive performances were observed in photochemical cell based UV detectors. However, liquid electrolytes are not ideal for long-term operation and are inconvenient for practical applications. Hence there is an urgent demand for replacing liquid electrolytes with solid-state hole transfer materials. Herein we report a nanostructured quasi-solid-state UV photodetector fabricated using a liquid crystal (LC)-embedded electrolyte with a light-trapping scheme. Vertical rutile TiO2 nanorod arrays grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass were used as the active photoanode. A high incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency of 29% at 383 nm and a quick response time of less than 0.03 s were observed. In addition, it was revealed that the quasi-solid-state UV photodetector showed visible-blind, high responsivity, fast time response and good photosensitivity linearity in a wide light intensity range. The LC-embedded electrolyte with a light-trapping scheme enhanced the light absorption and thus improved the photodetecting performance. This self-powered device is a promising candidate for application in high-sensitivity and high-speed UV light photodetectors.

Metal sulfide counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells: A balanced strategy for optical transparency and electrochemical activity

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have obtained exciting progress in improving energy conversion efficiency and cutting material cost in recent years. It is found that many kinds of inorganic compounds have promising potential to replace platinum as counter electrode materials for DSSCs. Actually, to a thin film electrode, preparation of the thin film is the same important as choice of active materials, because quality of the films has a direct effect on electrochemical and optical performance of the final counter electrodes. In this paper, a general strategy is developed to prepare transparent and high-efficient metal sulfide counter electrodes. In the route, the Group VIIIB metal sulfides are formed as compact, homogenous and stable films on fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass from a precursor organic solution by spin coating, and the film thickness can be readily converted to reach the balance between optical transparency and electrochemical activity. Among the Group VIIIB metal sulfides, the nickel sulfide film with the thickness of 100 nm shows the high transparency and energy conversion efficiency of 7.37%, higher than that of the DSSC using platinum electrode. The results provide a new and facile alternative to prepare high-efficient and transparent sulfide counter electrodes for DSSCs.

A Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensor Based on a Copper Nanoparticle–Zinc Oxide Nanorod Array

A non-enzymatic sensor for glucose based on copper nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanorod array modified fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass electrode was constructed by two-step electrodeposition. The electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrodes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Under the optimal conditions, the modified electrode offered a rapid response to glucose in the range from 5 × 10−6 M to 1.1 × 10−3 M (R = 0.9975) with a detection limit of 3 × 10−7 M (S/N = 3) and a sensitivity of 609.8 µA · mM−1. The preparation and operation of the biosensor was simple, had lower cost, and offered excellent performance due to its high sensitivity, good stability, reproducibility, and selectivity against other substances. The satisfactory results illustrated that it was promising for the determination of glucose in alkaline solutions.

Photovoltaic effects in Bi4Ti3O12 thin film prepared by a sol–gel method

Bi4Ti3O12 (BTO) film has been successfully fabricated on fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass substrate by the sol–gel technique. The optical band gap of 3.37eV can be estimated from the UV–vis absorption spectrum. Piezoelectric force microscopy measurement confirms the local ferroelecitity of the BTO film. Seen from the J–V curve, the short circuit photocurrent density is about −75nA/cm2 and the open circuit voltage is about 0.13V under the incident light intensity of 100mW/cm2. The time dependence of the zero bias photocurrent density with light ON/OFF demonstrates stable and repeatable instantaneous photocurrent. It is suggested that the interfacial Schottky barriers are responsible for the separation of electron−hole pairs in the BTO film.

Hydrothermal Fabrication of Hierarchically Anatase TiO2 Nanowire arrays on FTO Glass for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Hierarchical anatase TiO2 nano-architecture arrays consisting of long TiO2 nanowire trunk and numerous short TiO2 nanorod branches on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide glass are successfully synthesized for the first time through a facile one-step hydrothermal route without any surfactant and template. Dye-sensitized solar cells based on the hierarchical anatase TiO2 nano-architecture array photoelectrode of 18 μm in length shows a power conversion efficiency of 7.34% because of its higher specific surface area for adsorbing more dye molecules and superior light scattering capacity for boosting the light-harvesting efficiency. The present photovoltaic performance is the highest value for the reported TiO2 nanowires array photoelectrode.

Room-temperature fabrication of graphene films on variable substrates and its use as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Graphene films with controllable thicknesses, electrical and optical properties are fabricated on variable substrates at room temperature by a simple, efficient and low-cost solution-based method. This process is completely compatible with flexible substrates (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glasses, and even glassy carbon electrodes. The graphene films show excellent conductivity and electrochemical activity. The films prepared on FTO conductive glasses, as an alternative to ubiquitously employed platinum-based counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), are demonstrated. The results suggest a new start in the direction of graphene CEs for the development of next generation of optoelectronics.

Ordered Crystalline TiO2 Nanotube Arrays on Transparent FTO Glass for Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The fabrication of highly ordered one-dimensional TiO2 nanotube arrays on transparent conductive glass is of key interest for constructing dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) from the front-side illumination mode. We report the formation of large-scale free-standing TiO2 nanotube arrays via sonication of a TiO2 nanotube on Ti foil prepared by an anodization process, which can be further transferred to the fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass via a drop of TiO2 sol containing Ti(OBu)4 and polyethylene glycol. The photovoltaic performance of DSSCs based on 20.8 μm length TiO2 nanotube arrays on FTO glass reached 8.07%, which is higher than that of a TiO2 nanoparticle electrode (7.58%) because of the reduced electron combination and efficient light-harvesting efficiency for the former. It is also observed that the power conversion efficiency of DSSCs measured from the front-side illumination mode (8.07%) is higher than that of the back-side illumination mode (7.29%) owing to the light absorption by the i...

Surface photovoltage characterization of sol–gel derived Bi 4Ti 3O 12 ferroelectric thin film on F-doped SnO 2 conducting glass

The surface photovoltage response was investigated in partly c-axis oriented Bi 4Ti 3O 12 thin film deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass substrate by a sol–gel technology. The maximum SPV of BiT film reaches 1.8 mV under the dc bias voltage (+1 V) and is three times larger than that under the zero bias. It is also found that the SPV response intensity increases with the increasing positive field, and the intensity of the SPV signal becomes weak with a reverse response when the negative field increases. It is suggested that the SPV is strongly related to the ferroelectric polarization.

Combinatorial Discovery and Optimization of a Complex Oxide with Water Photoelectrolysis Activity

A ternary oxide containing cobalt, aluminum, and iron and not previously known to be active for the photoelectrolysis of water was identified using a high throughput combinatorial technique. The technique involves ink jet printing overlapping patterns of oxide precursors onto fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass substrates. Subsequent pyrolysis yields patterns of mixed oxide compositions that were screened for photoelectrolysis activity by scanning a laser over the material while it was immersed in an electrolyte and mapping the photocurrent response. The composition and optimum thickness for photoelectrochemical response of the newly identified material was further refined using quantitative ink jet printing. Chemical analysis of bulk and thin film samples revealed that the material contains cobalt, aluminum, and iron in a Co3O4 spinel structure with Fe and Al substituted into Co sites with a nominal stoichiometry of Co3−x−yAlxFeyO4 where x and y are about 0.18 and 0.30, respectively. The material is a p-type semiconductor with an indirect band gap of around 1.5 eV, a value that is nearly ideal for an efficient single photoelectrode for water photoelectroylsis. Photoelectrochemical measurements indicate that the onset of hydrogen evolution is about 0.9 V positive of the thermodynamic value but the photocurrent is limited by slow kinetics for hydrogen evolution.