M(Al,Ni)-TiO2-Based Photoanode for Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells
-
Javier Navas
,
Fran Reyes-Pérez
Abstract
This study presents the incorporation of Al and Ni cations onto the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles used as photoelectrode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The incorporation of these cations was performed using the chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. This process was applied up to three times to evaluate the semiconductors’ properties with respect to the amount of Al and Ni. The M(Al,Ni)-TiO2-based semiconductors were widely characterized using techniques such as X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The presence of (hydr)oxide species of Al(III) and Ni(II) was confirmed and anatase was the predominant crystalline phase obtained. Moreover, for both elements, a decrease in the band gap energy was observed, this being more pronounced after the incorporation of Ni. Furthermore, the use of the M(Al,Ni)-TiO2-based semiconductors as photoelectrodes in DSSCs led to an increase in the open-circuit voltage of up to 22% and 10% for the incorporation of Al and Ni, respectively. This increase can be reasonably explained by the negative shift of the flat band potential of the photoelectrodes. EIS measurements were performed to study the electron transport kinetics in the photoelectrode and the internal resistance in the DSSCs to understand the photocurrent density values obtained.
References
1. S. S. Mao, X. B. Chen, Int. J. Energ. Res. 31 (2007) 619.10.1002/er.1283Search in Google Scholar
2. B. Oregan, M. Gratzel, Nature 353 (1991) 737.10.1038/353737a0Search in Google Scholar
3. H. Lindstrom, A. Holmberg, E. Magnusson, L. Malmqvist, A. Hagfeldt, J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 145 (2001) 107.10.1016/S1010-6030(01)00564-0Search in Google Scholar
4. M. Jalali, R. S. Moakhar, A. Kushwaha, G. K. L. Goh, N. Riahi-Noori, S. K. Sadrnezhaad, Electrochim. Acta 169 (2015) 395.10.1016/j.electacta.2015.04.077Search in Google Scholar
5. B. Mishra, S. Agarkar, D. Khushalani, Mater. Chem. Phys. 147 (2014) 1110.10.1016/j.matchemphys.2014.06.065Search in Google Scholar
6. M. Manca, L. De Marco, R. Giannuzzi, R. Agosta, C. Dwivedi, A. Qualtieri, P. D. Cozzoli, V. Dutta, G. Gigli, Thin Solid Films 568 (2014) 122.10.1016/j.tsf.2013.10.155Search in Google Scholar
7. M. Y. A. Rahman, L. Roza, A. A. Umar, M. M. Salleh, J. Alloy Compd. 648 (2015) 86.10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.05.283Search in Google Scholar
8. X. J. Lu, X. L. Mou, J. J. Wu, D. W. Zhang, L. L. Zhang, F. Q. Huang, F. F. Xu, S. M. Huang, Adv. Funct. Mater 20 (2010) 509.10.1002/adfm.200901292Search in Google Scholar
9. H. J. Tian, L. H. Hu, C. N. Zhang, W. Q. Liu, Y. Huang, L. Mo, L. Guo, J. Sheng, S. Y. Dai, J. Phys. Chem. C 114 (2010) 1627.10.1021/jp9103646Search in Google Scholar
10. Z. F. Liu, Y. B. Li, C. C. Liu, J. Ya, E. Lei, W. Zhao, D. Zhao, L. An, ACS Appl. Mater. Int. 3 (2011) 1721.10.1021/am200232gSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
11. J. Navas, C. Fernandez-Lorenzo, T. Aguilar, R. Alcantara, J. Martin-Calleja, Phys. Status Solidi. A 209 (2012) 378.10.1002/pssa.201127336Search in Google Scholar
12. T. R. C. K. Wijayarathna, G. M. L. P. Aponsu, Y. P. Y. P. Ariyasinghe, E. V. A. Premalal, G. K. R. Kumara, K. Tennakone, Nanotechnology 19 (2008) 485703.10.1088/0957-4484/19/48/485703Search in Google Scholar
13. J. Navas, T. Aguilar, C. Fernandez-Lorenzo, R. Alcantara, D. M. de los Santos, A. Sanchez-Coronilla, D. Zorrilla, J. Sanchez-Marquez, J. Martin-Calleja, Sci. Adv. Mater. 6 (2014) 473.10.1166/sam.2014.1740Search in Google Scholar
14. J. Navas, R. Alcantara, C. Fernandez-Lorenzo, J. Martin-Calleja, Int. J. Energ. Res. 36 (2012) 193.10.1002/er.1793Search in Google Scholar
15. T. Aguilar, J. Navas, D. M. D. Santos, A. Sanchez-Coronilla, C. Fernandez-Lorenzo, R. Alcantara, J. J. Gallardo, G. Blanco, J. Martin-Calleja, J. Phys. D Appl. Phys. 48 (2015).10.1088/0022-3727/48/14/145102Search in Google Scholar
16. X. J. Feng, K. Shankar, M. Paulose, C. A. Grimes, Angew Chem. Int. Edit. 48 (2009) 8095.10.1002/anie.200903114Search in Google Scholar
17. C. Longo, J. Freitas, M. A. De Paoli, J. Photoch. Photobio. A. 159 (2003) 33.10.1016/S1010-6030(03)00106-0Search in Google Scholar
18. C. P. Hsu, K. M. Lee, J. T. W. Huang, C. Y. Lin, C. H. Lee, L. P. Wang, S. Y. Tsai, K. C. Ho, Electrochim. Acta 53 (2008) 7514.10.1016/j.electacta.2008.01.104Search in Google Scholar
19. R. Lopez, R. Gomez, M. E. Llanos, Catal. Today 148 (2009) 103.10.1016/j.cattod.2009.04.001Search in Google Scholar
20. J. Navas, A. Sanchez-Coronilla, T. Aguilar, N. C. Hernandez, D. M. de los Santos, J. Sanchez-Marquez, D. Zorrilla, C. Fernandez-Lorenzo, R. Alcantara, J. Martin-Calleja, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 16 (2014) 383.10.1039/C3CP53183JSearch in Google Scholar
21. Y. V. Kolen’ko, A. A. Burukhin, B. R. Churagulov, N. N. Oleynikov, Mater. Lett. 57 (2003) 1124.10.1016/S0167-577X(02)00943-6Search in Google Scholar
22. T. Ohsaka, F. Izumi, Y. Fujiki, J. Raman Spectrosc. 7 (1978) 321.10.1002/jrs.1250070606Search in Google Scholar
23. S. K. S. Patel, N. S. Gajbhiye, S. K. Date, J. Alloy Compd. 509 (2011) S427.10.1016/j.jallcom.2011.01.086Search in Google Scholar
24. N. R. Mathews, E. R. Morales, M. A. Cortes-Jacome, J. A. T. Antonio, Sol. Energy 83 (2009) 1499.10.1016/j.solener.2009.04.008Search in Google Scholar
25. M. C. Biesinger, L. W. M. Lau, A. R. Gerson, R. S. C. Smart, Appl. Surf. Sci. 257 (2010) 887.10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.07.086Search in Google Scholar
26. A. V. Naumkin, A. Kraut-Vass, S. W. Gaarenstroom, C. J. Powell, in NIST Standard Reference Database 20, Version 4.1, Gaithersburg (2012).Search in Google Scholar
27. A. K. P. D. Savio, J. Fletcher, F. C. R. Hernandez, Ceram. Int. 39 (2013) 2753.10.1016/j.ceramint.2012.09.042Search in Google Scholar
28. J. Navas, A. Sanchez-Coronilla, T. Aguilar, D. M. De los Santos, N. C. Hernandez, R. Alcantara, C. Fernandez-Lorenzo, J. Martin-Calleja, Nanoscale 6 (2014) 12740.10.1039/C4NR03715DSearch in Google Scholar
29. M. I. Zaki, A. Katrib, A. I. Muftah, T. C. Jagadale, M. Ikram, S. B. Ogale, Appl. Catal. A-Gen. 452 (2013) 214.10.1016/j.apcata.2012.12.003Search in Google Scholar
30. N. Kruse, S. Chenakin, Appl. Catal. A-Gen. 391 (2011) 367.10.1016/j.apcata.2010.05.039Search in Google Scholar
31. S. W. Ryu, E. J. Kim, S. K. Ko, S. H. Hahn, Mater. Lett. 58 (2004) 582.10.1016/S0167-577X(03)00566-4Search in Google Scholar
32. M. C. Biesinger, B. P. Payne, A. P. Grosvenor, L. W. M. Lau, A. R. Gerson, R. S. Smart, Appl. Surf. Sci. 257 (2011) 2717.10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.10.051Search in Google Scholar
33. B. Schumacher, V. Plzak, J. Cai, R. J. Behm, Catal. Lett. 101 (2005) 215.10.1007/s10562-004-4895-6Search in Google Scholar
34. H. M. Liu, W. S. Yang, Y. Ma, Y. Cao, J. N. Yao, J. Zhang, T. D. Hu, Langmuir 19 (2003) 3001.10.1021/la026600oSearch in Google Scholar
35. M. Del Nero, C. Galindo, R. Barillon, E. Halter, B. Made, J. Colloid. Interf. Sci. 342 (2010) 437.10.1016/j.jcis.2009.10.057Search in Google Scholar PubMed
36. T. Peretyazhko, J. M. Zachara, S. M. Heald, R. K. Kukkadapu, C. Liu, A. E. Plymale, C. T. Resch, Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (2008) 5499.10.1021/es8003156Search in Google Scholar PubMed
37. M. C. Biesinger, B. P. Payne, L. W. M. Lau, A. Gerson, R. S. C. Smart, Surf. Int. Anal. 41 (2009) 324.10.1002/sia.3026Search in Google Scholar
38. L. F. Gate, Appl. Optics 13 (1974) 236.10.1364/AO.13.000236Search in Google Scholar PubMed
39. H. S. Kim, C. R. Lee, J. H. Im, K. B. Lee, T. Moehl, A. Marchioro, S. J. Moon, R. Humphry-Baker, J. H. Yum, J. E. Moser, M. Gratzel, N. G. Park, Sci. Rep. 2 (2012) 591.10.1038/srep00591Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
40. F. Fabregat-Santiago, G. Garcia-Belmonte, I. Mora-Sero, J. Bisquert, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 13 (2011) 9083.10.1039/c0cp02249gSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
41. E. Guillen, L. M. Peter, J. A. Anta, J. Phys. Chem. C 115 (2011) 22622.10.1021/jp206698tSearch in Google Scholar
42. S. R. Raga, E. M. Barea, F. Fabregat-Santiago, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 3 (2012) 1629.10.1021/jz3005464Search in Google Scholar PubMed
43. Z. S. Wang, T. Yamaguchi, H. Sugihara, H. Arakawa, Langmuir 21 (2005) 4272.10.1021/la050134wSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
44. T. Stergiopoulos, S. Karakostas, P. Falaras, J. Photochem. Photobiol. A: Chem. 163 (2004) 331.10.1016/j.jphotochem.2004.01.002Search in Google Scholar
45. M. Shaheer Akhtar, J.-G. Park, H.-C. Lee, S.-K. Lee, O.-B. Yang, Electrochim. Acta 55 (2010) 2418.10.1016/j.electacta.2009.11.062Search in Google Scholar
46. Y. Xiang, J. Yu, J. Zhuang, Z. Ma, H. Li, Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells 165 (2017) 45.10.1016/j.solmat.2017.02.036Search in Google Scholar
©2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- The Electronic Structure Signature of the Spin Cross-Over Transition of [Co(dpzca)2]
- Thermal Degradation of Complexes Derived from Cu (II) Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Soaps
- Effect of Mesoporous Diatomite Particles on the Kinetics of SR&NI ATRP of Styrene and Butyl Acrylate
- Removal of Hexavalent Chromium by Adsorption on Microwave Assisted Activated Carbon Prepared from Stems of Leucas Aspera
- Removal of Acid Yellow 17 Dye by Fenton Oxidation Process
- The Efficient Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Industry Effluents Using Waste Biomass as Low-Cost Adsorbent: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Models
- Degradation of Acetaminophen in Aqueous Media by H2O2 Assisted Gamma Irradiation Process
- M(Al,Ni)-TiO2-Based Photoanode for Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells
- Quantum Mechanical Study of γ-Fe2O3 Nanoparticle as a Nanocarrier for Anticancer Drug Delivery
- Corrigendum
- Corrigendum to: Green Synthesis of CoFe2O4 and Investigation of its Catalytic Efficiency for Degradation of Dyes in Aqueous Medium
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- The Electronic Structure Signature of the Spin Cross-Over Transition of [Co(dpzca)2]
- Thermal Degradation of Complexes Derived from Cu (II) Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Soaps
- Effect of Mesoporous Diatomite Particles on the Kinetics of SR&NI ATRP of Styrene and Butyl Acrylate
- Removal of Hexavalent Chromium by Adsorption on Microwave Assisted Activated Carbon Prepared from Stems of Leucas Aspera
- Removal of Acid Yellow 17 Dye by Fenton Oxidation Process
- The Efficient Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Industry Effluents Using Waste Biomass as Low-Cost Adsorbent: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Models
- Degradation of Acetaminophen in Aqueous Media by H2O2 Assisted Gamma Irradiation Process
- M(Al,Ni)-TiO2-Based Photoanode for Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells
- Quantum Mechanical Study of γ-Fe2O3 Nanoparticle as a Nanocarrier for Anticancer Drug Delivery
- Corrigendum
- Corrigendum to: Green Synthesis of CoFe2O4 and Investigation of its Catalytic Efficiency for Degradation of Dyes in Aqueous Medium
