Titanium Dioxide One-Dimensional Nanostructures as Photoanodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Published: 2024-07-09
Page: 315-338
Issue: 2024 - Volume 7 [Issue 2]
Simon Bbumba *
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda and Department of Science, Faculty of Science and Computing, Ndejje University, P.O. Box 7088, Kampala, Uganda.
Ibrahim Karume
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Moses Kigozi
Department of Chemistry, Busitema University, P.O. Box 236, Tororo, Uganda.
Hussein Kisiki Nsamba
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Collins Letibo Yikii
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Resty Alexandra Nazziwa
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Ivan Kiganda
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Muhammad Ntale
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Herein, we reviewed the titanium dioxide one-dimensional nanostructures which are commonly applied as photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Titanium dioxide is the commonly used semiconductor electrode due to its low toxicity, mechanical stability, and availability during DSSCs application. The efficiency of the DSSCs having a titanium dioxide photoanode is mainly determined by the changes in the short circuit current (Jsc). The TiO2 nanoparticles have shown an efficiency of 12 % which is the highest. Other nanostructures such as nanotubes (11.05 %), nanowires (8.90 %), and nanofibers (8.0 %) have also been used as anodes. The TiO2 nanostructures have a high surface area that enhances dye loading but also increases the short circuit current hence leading to a high conversion efficiency. This review also introduces the commonly used characterization techniques for titanium dioxide one-dimensional nanostructures which explain crystal orientation, morphology, surface functional groups, surface area, elemental composition, and other chemical properties.
Keywords: titanium dioxide, short circuit current, photoanode, nanotubes, nanowires, efficiency