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Electrospun TiO2 nanowires for hybrid photovoltaic cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2011

Surawut Chuangchote ,
Takashi Sagawa  and
Susumu Yoshikawa
Surawut Chuangchote
Affiliation:
Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
Takashi Sagawa*
Affiliation:
Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
Susumu Yoshikawa
Affiliation:
Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: t-sagawa@iae.kyoto-u.ac.jp
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Abstract

A simple and controllable fabrication of TiO2 nanowires by electrospinning and their applications to the electron transporting layer for hybrid organic–inorganic photovoltaic cells are reported. TiO2 nanowires were directly electrospun onto an indium tin oxide on glass substrate from a solution in methanol of polyvinylpyrrolidone, titanium(IV) butoxide, and acetylacetone. The nanowire electrode obtained was consequently subjected to calcination at 450 °C. Solution of blended [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester and poly(3-hexylthiophene) was spin coated on the TiO2 nanowire electrode, followed by thermal annealing and deposition of Au electrode. Hybrid organic–inorganic photovoltaic cells made of TiO2 nanowires exhibited remarkable improvement of the cell efficiencies in terms of photocurrent density and open-circuit voltage as compared with those of references, TiO2 flat films. Maximum energy conversion efficiency of hybrid organic–inorganic photovoltaic cells made of TiO2 nanowires of 1.27% was achieved.

Keywords

PhotovoltaicCompoundFiber

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Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 26 , Issue 17: Focus Issue: Nanowires: Fundamentals and Applications , 14 September 2011 , pp. 2316 - 2321
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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