Optimizing the growth parameters of highly ordered TiO2 nanotubes during the electrochemical anodization

Paper presented to the 9th Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) held at the Marcus Welcome Center, Wichita State University, May 8, 2013.Research completed at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of EngineeringDye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are photo electrochemical cells that are produced using various semiconductor nanoparticles and dye solutions. Efficiency of these inexpensive solar cells is fairly low (less than 11 %) because of the slow ion diffusion, poor electron transport in electrodes, and high resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface. In order to increase the efficiency of the DSSCs, larger diameter (550 nm) of TiO2 nanotubes were produced using pure Ti foil through electrochemical anodization process. In terms of diameter, this is the largest diameter of TiO2 nanotubes to date. This allows us to fill highly conductive C60 and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) nanoparticles into these tubes, increase the ion diffusion and electron transportation, and reduce the interfacial resistances. We believe that efficiency of DSSC can be considerably increased through this process.The Graduate School, Academic Affairs, and University Librarie