• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2012

One dimensional(1D) $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ nanorods with 70 nm in diameter was synthesized by a molten salt method. Using the synthesized nanorods, about 750 nm thick $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ film was coated on Fluorine-doped tin oxide(FTO) glasss substrate by the Layer-by-layer self-assembly(LBL-SA) method in which a repetitive self-assembling of ions containing an opposite electric charge in an aqueous solution was utilized. Using the Kubelka-Munk function, the band gap energy of the 1D-$Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ nanorods was nalyzed to be 3.5 eV. On the other hand, the band gap energy of the $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ film coated on FTO was found to be a reduced value of 2.9 eV, resulting from the nano-scale and high porosity of the film processed by LBL-SA method, which was favorable for the photo absorption capability. A significant improvement of photocurrent and onset voltage was observed with the $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}$ film incorporated into the conventional $Fe_2O_3$ photoelectrode: the photocurrent increased from 0.25 to 0.82 mA/$cm^2$, the onset voltage decreased from 0.95 to 0.78 V.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.491-496
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• 2019

In this study, we prepare pure $WO_3$ inverse opal(IO) film with a thickness of approximately $3{\mu}m$ by electrodeposition, and an ultra-thin $TiO_2$ layer having a thickness of 2 nm is deposited on $WO_3$ IO film by atomic layer deposition. Both sets of photoelectrochemical properties are evaluated after developing dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSCs). In addition, morphological, crystalline and optical properties of the developed films are evaluated through field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HR-TEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD) and UV/visible/infrared spectrophotometry. In particular, pure $WO_3$ IO based DSSCs show low $V_{OC}$, $J_{SC}$ and fill factor of 0.25 V, $0.89mA/cm^2$ and 18.9 %, achieving an efficiency of 0.04 %, whereas the $TiO_2/WO_3$ IO based DSSCs exhibit $V_{OC}$, $J_{SC}$ and fill factor of 0.57 V, $1.18mA/cm^2$ and 50.1 %, revealing an overall conversion efficiency of 0.34 %, probably attributable to the high dye adsorption and suppressed charge recombination reaction.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Recent industrialization has led to a high demand for the use of fossil fuels. Therefore, the need for producing hydrogen and its utilization is essential for a sustainable society. For an eco-friendly future technology, photoelectrochemical water splitting using solar energy has proven promising amongst many other candidates. With this technique, semiconductors can be used as photocatalysts to generate electrons by light absorption, resulting in the reduction of hydrogen ions. The photocatalysts must be chemically stable, economically inexpensive and be able to utilize a wide range of light. From this perspective, cuprous oxide($Cu_2O$) is a promising p-type semiconductor because of its appropriate band gap. However, a major hindrance to the use of $Cu_2O$ is its instability at the potential in which hydrogen ion is reduced. In this study, gold is used as a bottom electrode during electrodeposition to obtain a preferential growth along the (111) plane of $Cu_2O$ while imperfections of the $Cu_2O$ thin films are removed. This study investigates the photoelectrochemical properties of $Cu_2O$. However, severe photo-induced corrosion impedes the use of $Cu_2O$ as a photoelectrode. Two candidates, $TiO_2$ and $SnO_2$, are selected for the passivation layer on $Cu_2O$ by by considering the Pourbaix-diagram. $TiO_2$ and $SnO_2$ passivation layers are deposited by atomic layer deposition(ALD) and a sputtering process, respectively. The investigation of the photoelectrochemical properties confirmed that $SnO_2$ is a good passivation layer for $Cu_2O$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2011

In order to improve the energy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), the photoelectrode was manufactured by using $TiO_2$ and $WO_3$ on combination effects of two conduction bands. The smash procedure of $TiO_2$ and $WO_3$ was carried out by using a paint shaker to enlarge the contact area of semiconductor with dye and electrolyte. The energy conversion efficiency of prepared DSSC was improved about two times from current-voltage curve based on effects of $WO_3$ and smash. The mechanism was suggested that the conduction band of $WO_3$ worked for prohibiting the trapping effects of electrons in conduction band of $TiO_2$. This result is attributed to the prevention of electron recombination between electron in conduction band of $TiO_2$ with dye and electrolyte. Impedance results indicate the improved electron transport at interface of $TiO_2$/dye/electrolyte.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.88-99
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• 1992

For the development of semiconducting photoelectrode to be more stable and efficient in the process of photoelectrolysis of the water, pure titanium rods were oxidized by anodic oxidation, furance oxidation and flame oxidation and used as electrodes. The Indium islands were formed by electrodeposition of "In" thin film on $TiO_2$ and Ti by electrodeposition. Also $A1_2O_3$ and NiO islands were coated on Ti by the electron-beam evaporation technique. The maximum photoelectrochemical conversion efficiency(${\eta}$) was 0.98% for flame oxidized electrode($1200^{\circ}C$ for 2min in air). Anodically oxidized electrodes have photoelectrochemical conversion efficiency of 0.14%. Furnace oxidized electrode($800^{\circ}C$ for 10min in air) has 0.57% of photoelectrochemical efficiency and shows a band-gap energy of about 2.9eV. The $In_2O_3$ coated $TiO_2$ exhibits 0.8% of photoelectrochemical efficiency but much higher value of ${\eta}$ was obtained with the Increase of applied blas voltage. However, $Al_2O_3$ or NiO coated $TiO_2$ shows much low value of ${\eta}$. The efficiency was dependent on the presence of the metallic interstitial compound $TiO_{0+x}$(x<0.33) at the metal-semiconductor interface and the thickness of the suboxide layer and the external rutile scale.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.463-463
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• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have generated a strong interest in the development of solid-state devices owing to their low cost and simple preparation procedures. Effort has been devoted to the study of electrolytes that allow light-to-electrical power conversion for DSSC applications. Several attempts have been made to substitute the liquid electrolyte in the original solar cells by using (2,2',7,7'-tetrakis (N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9-9'-spirobi-fluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) that act as hole conductor [1]. Although efficiencies above 3% have been reached by several groups, here the major challenging is limited photoelectrode thickness ($2{\mu}m$), which is very low due to electron diffusion length (Ln) for spiro-OMeTAD ($4.4{\mu}m$) [2]. In principle, the $TiO_2$ layer can be thicker than had been thought previously. This has important implications for the design of high-efficiency solid-state DSSCs. In the present study, we have fabricated 3-D Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) by growing tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanowire (NWs) arrays via a vapor transport method [3] and mesoporous $TiO_2$ nanoparticle (NP)-based photoelectrodes were prepared using doctor blade method. Finally optimized light-harvesting solid-state DSSCs is made using 3-D TCO where electron life time is controlled the recombination rate through fast charge collection and also ITO NWs length can be controlled in the range of over $2{\mu}m$ and has been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Structural analyses by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that the ITO NWs formed single crystal oriented [100] direction. Also to compare the charge collection properties of conventional NPs based solid-state DSSCs with ITO NWs based solid-state DSSCs, we have studied intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS), intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and transient open circuit voltages. As a result, above $4{\mu}m$ thick ITO NWs based photoelectrodes with Z907 dye shown the best performing device, exhibiting a short-circuit current density of 7.21 mA cm-2 under simulated solar emission of 100 mW cm-2 associated with an overall power conversion efficiency of 2.80 %. Finally, we achieved the efficiency of 7.5% by applying a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite sensitizer.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.604-610
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• 2016

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a novel $Cu_2O/CuO$ heterojunction structure with CuO nanorods embedded in $Cu_2O$ thin film as an efficient photocathode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar water splitting. A CuO nanorod array was first prepared on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via a seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method; then, a $Cu_2O$ thin film was electrodeposited onto the CuO nanorod array to form an oxide semiconductor heterostructure. The crystalline phases and morphologies of the heterojunction materials were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated $Cu_2O/CuO$ heterojunction photocathode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode was found to exhibit negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g. $-1.05mA/cm^2$ at -0.6 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$ in $1mM\;Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte, revealing the effective operation of the oxide heterostructure. The photocurrent conversion efficiency of the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode was estimated to be 1.27% at -0.6 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$. Moreover, the PEC current density versus time (J-T) profile measured at -0.5 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$ on the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode indicated a 3-fold increase in the photocurrent density compared to that of a simple $Cu_2O$ thin film photocathode. The improved PEC performance was attributed to a certain synergistic effect of the bilayer heterostructure on the light absorption and electron-hole recombination processes.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.232-236
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• 1999

A solar cell based on dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion was studied by electrochemical and spec-trofluorometric methods for the purposes of enhancing its efficiency and stability of $TiO_2$ solar cells. Nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ was used to prepare photoelectrodes, and photosensitizing dyes such as malachite green oxalate, basic blue3, rhodamine B, and bromocresol purple were chosen as sensitizers. Electrochemical oxidation potentials and absorption and emission wavelengths of dyes were used to determine energy levels of the dyes. By comparing excited energy levels of the dyes with the conduction band edge potential $(E_{c,s})\;of\;TiO_2$ calculated by using the flat-band potential $(E_{fb})\;of\;TiO_2$, properties of a dye required to fabricate a high efficient photosensitizing solar cell with high short-circuit current $(J_{sc})$ were suggested. Enhanced stability of photocurrent was obtained by coating a $TiO_2|ITO$ electrode with Polypyrrole that Possibly Prevented the recombination between the conduction band electrons and oxidized dyes and suppressed the direct electrode redox reactions of dyes on ITO.