Conveniently fabricated heterojunction ZnO/TiO2 electrodes using TiO2 nanotube arrays for dye-sensitized solar cells

TiO2 nanotube arrays with an inner average pore diameter of 83 nm and a length of 14 mu m are grown on Ti foils by electrochemical anodization in ammonium fluoride-water-glycerol solution. ZnO is introduced into the TiO2 nanotube arrays by a convenient electrodeposition technique. ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposites supported on Ti substrate are used as the photo-anode electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The morphology, structure and electrochemical properties are investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffusion reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements. It is found that ZnO have been embedded in the TiO2 nanotube arrays, and changed some photoelectric properties. The conversion efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cells is more than doubled, compared with that of bare TiO2 nanotube arrays with deposited 60 min. This improvement comes from the synergetic effect between ZnO and TiO2, which increases dye absorption, electron transport and electron lifetime. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.