• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.185-202
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• 2018

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells can convert solar energy, the largest potential source of renewable energy, into hydrogen fuel which can be stored, transported, and used on demand. In terms of cost competitiveness compared with fossil fuels, however, both photocatalytic efficiency and cost-effectiveness must be achieved simultaneously. Improvement of cost-effective, scalable, versatile, and eco-friendly fabrication methods has emerged as an urgent mission for PEC cells, and solution-based fabrication methods could be capable of meeting these demands. Herein, we review recent challenges for various nanostructured oxide photoelectrodes fabricated by solution-based processes. Hematite, tungsten oxide, bismuth vanadate, titanium oxide, and copper oxides are the main oxides focused on, and various strategies have been attempted with respect to these photocatalyst materials. The effects of nanostructuring, heterojunctions, and co-catalyst loading on the surface are discussed. Our review introduces notable solution-based processes for water splitting photoelectrodes and gives an outlook on eco-friendly and cost-effective approaches to solar fuel generation and innovative artificial photosynthesis technologies.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2019

Anodic oxidized $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays are promising materials for application in photoelectrochemical solar cells as the photoanode, because of their attractive properties including slow electron recombination rate, superior light scattering, and smooth electrolyte diffusion. However, because of the opacity of these nanotube electrodes, the back-side illumination is inevitable for the application in solar cells. Therefore, for the fabrication of solar cells with the anodic oxidized nanotube electrodes, it is required to develop efficient and transparent counter electrodes. Here, we demonstrate quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) based on the nanotube photoanode and transparent counter electrodes. The transparent counter electrodes based on Pt electrocatalysts were prepared by a simple thermal decomposition methods. The photovoltaic performances of QDSCs with nanotube photoanode were tested and optimized depending on the concentration of Pt precursor solutions for the preparation of counter electrodes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.116-116
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• 2009

$TiO_2$ pastes was synthesized to obtained of high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells using size dependent co-polymer. SBM co-polymer binder is consist of styrene, n-butyl acrylate, and methacrylic acid (SBM) monodisperse co-polymer binder materials and this $TiO_2$ pastes were applied of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photoanodes were characterized by ATR-Fourier Transform spectrometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and morphology was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The photoelectrochemical properties of the thin films and the performance of DSSCs were measured by photovoltaic-current density, AC impedance and monochromatic incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE). DSSC based on the 100nm size co-polymer binder was obtained conversion efficiency of 8.1% under irradiation of AM 1.5(100 $mWcm^2$).

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.13.1-13.1
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• 2011

Photoelectrochemical solar cells such as dye-sensitized cells (DSSCs), which exhibit high performance and are cost-effective, provide an alternative to conventional p-n junction photovoltaic devices. However, the efficiency of such cells plateaus at 11~12%, in contrast to their theoretical value of 33%. The majority of research has focused on improving energy conversion efficiency of DSSC by controlling nanostructure and exploiting new materials in photoelectrode consisting of semiconducting oxide nanoparticles and a transparent conducting oxide electrode (TCO) [1-5]. In this presentation, we introduce inverse opal-based scattering layers containing highly crystalline anatase nanoparticles and their feasibility for use as bi-functional light scattering layer is discussed in terms of optical reflectance and charge generation properties as a function of optical wavelength. A new ITO nanowire-based photoelecrode is also introduced and its unique charge collection property is presented, demonstrating potential use for highly efficient charge collection in DSSC.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.7.2-7.2
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• 2011

Photoelectrochemical solar cells such as dye-sensitized cells (DSSCs), which exhibit high performance and are cost-effective, provide an alternative to conventional p-n junction photovoltaic devices. However, the efficiency of such cells plateaus at 11~12%, in contrast to their theoretical value of 33%. The majority of research has focused on improving energy conversion efficiency of DSSC by controlling nanostructure and exploiting new materials in photoelectrode consisting of semiconducting oxide nanoparticles and a transparent conducting oxide electrode (TCO). In this presentation, we introduce monodisperesed TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by forced hydrolysis method and their superiority as photoelectrode materials was characterized with aids of optical and electrochemical analysis. Inverse opal-based scattering layers containing highly crystalline anatase nanoparticles are also introduced and their feasibility for use as bi-functional light scattering layer is discussed in terms of optical reflectance and charge generation properties as a function of optical wavelength.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.123-126
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• 2011

Titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) thin films were deposited by the sol-gel method with a surfactant-assisted mechanism. Its application for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to characterize the surface characteristics of thin films. Photovoltaic-current density measurements were performed to determine the photoelectrochemical properties of the thin films and the performance of DSSCs. Energy conversion efficiency of about 6.1% was achieved for cells with conductive glass under illumination with AM 1.5 (100 $mWcm^{-2}$) simulated sunlight. Investigation showed higher photo-energy conversion efficiency for mesoporous $TiO_2$ nanocrystalline films used in DSSCs relative to commercially available Degussa P25 films.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.2185-2189
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• 2010

Closely arranged CdSe and Zn doped CdSe vertical nanorod bundles were grown directly on FTO coated glass by using electrodeposition method. Structural analysis by XRD showed the hexagonal phase without any precipitates related to Zn. FE-SEM image showed end capped vertically aligned nanorods arranged closely. From the UV-vis transmittance spectra, band gap energy was found to vary between 1.94 and 1.98 eV due to the incorporation of Zn. Solar cell parameters were obtained by assembling photoelectrochemical cells using CdSe and CdSe:Zn photoanodes, Pt cathode and polysulfide (1M $Na_2S$ + 1M S + 1M NaOH) electrolyte. The efficiency was found to increase from 0.16 to 0.22 upon Zn doping. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) indicate that the charge-transfer resistance on the FTO/CdSe/polysulfide interface was greater than on FTO/CdSe:Zn/polysulfide. Cyclic voltammetry results also indicate that the FTO/CdSe:Zn/polysulfide showed higher activity towards polysulfide redox reaction than that of FTO/CdSe/polysulfide.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.261-267
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• 2018

Hydrothermal synthesis of highly crystalline $TiO_2$ nanorods is a well-developed technique and the nanorods have been widely used as the template for growth of various core-shell nanorod structures. Magneli/CdS core-shell nanorod structures are fabricated for the photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) electrode to achieve enhanced carrier transport along the metallic magneli phase nanorod template. However, the long and thin $TiO_2$ nanorods may form a high resistance path to the electrons transferred from the CdS layer. $TiO_2$ nanorods synthesized are reduced to magneli phases, $TixO_{2x-1}$, by heat treatment in a hydrogen environment. Two types of magneli phase nanorods of $Ti_4O_7$ and $Ti_3O_5$ are synthesized. Structural morphology and X-ray diffraction analyses are carried out. CdS nano-films are deposited on the magneli nanorods for the main light absorption layer to form a photoanode, and the PEC performance is measured under simulated sunlight irradiation and compared with the conventional $TiO_2/CdS$ core-shell nanorod electrode. A higher photocurrent is observed from the stand-alone $Ti_3O_5/CdS$ core-shell nanorod structure in which the nanorods are grown on both sides of the seed layer.

• Clean Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.202-209
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• 2009

N-incorporated $WO_3$ ($WO_3$:N) films were synthesized using a reactive RF magnetron sputtering on unheated substrate and then post-annealed at different temperatures from 300 to $500^{\circ}C$ in air. The N anion narrowed optical band gap, due to its mixing effect with the O 2p valence states. Furthermore, it was found that the crystallinity of the $WO_3$:N films was significantly improved by the post-annealing at $350^{\circ}C$ and higher. As a result, the $WO_3$:N films exhibited much better photoelectrochemical performance, compared with pure $WO_3$ films post-annealed at the same temperature.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2010

Photoelectrochemical solar cells such as dye-sensitized cells (DSSCs), which exhibit high performance and are cost-effective, provide an alternative to conventional p-n junction photovoltaic devices. However, the efficiency of such cells plateaus at 11-12%, in contrast to their theoretical value of 33%. Improvements in efficiency can only occur through a fundamental understanding of the underlying physics, materials, and device designs of DSSCs. A photoelectrode consisting of semiconducting oxide nanoparticles and a transparent conducting oxide electrode (TCO) is a key component of DSSC and design of photoelectrode materials is one of promising strategies to improving energy conversion efficiency. We introduce monodisperesed $TiO_2$ nanoparticles prepared by forced hydrolysis method and their superiority as photoelectrode materials was characterized with aids of optical and electrochemical analysis. Multi-layered TCO materials are also introduced and their feasibility for use as photoelectrodes is discussed in terms of optical absorption and charge collecting properties.