PROF. ADUDA BERNARD O.

Citation:

Mwabora JM, Simiyu, J. W, S. M, Aduda BO. "Nanostructured TiO2 for Dye Sensitized Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells.". In: Poster presented at the ICTP-NCNNC-ICTS Asian Pacific Regional College . Beijing, P. R. China; 2006.

Date Presented:

Abstract:

Nanostructured materials for dye sensitised solar cells (DSSSC) have gained a lot of interest since the breakthrough of 11% solar cell based on TiO2 [1]. A DSSC typically consists of a monolayer of photoactive dye molecules anchored onto the nanoparticles of a wide band gap semiconductor, an electrolyte and a platinised counter electrode.

The focus in our research group are (1) preparation and characterisation of the photoactive electrode (TiO2), (2) nitrogen/metallic oxide doping of the photoactive electrode, (3) identification of natural anthocyanin dye containing plants, extracting and synthesizing and purifying the dye for use as an alternative to the costly ruthenium based dye, (4) improvement on the charge transfer characteristics from the dye to the semiconductor and hence in the whole system, (5) charactrization and optimization of eta solar cell based on TiO2/In(OH)xSy/PbS/PEDOT.PSS/Au and (6) tailoring of semiconductor surface using ultra thin Al2O3 thin film.

TiO2 films were prepared by reactive DC sputtering and from TiO2 nanotubes prepared by synthesis method using 10M NaOH and dispersed in alcohol. XRD, SEM and TEM were used to characterize the electrodes. IPCE and I-V characteristics of the solar cells were obtained and compared with the electrode properties and structures. Some results, discussions and conclusions are presented.