Performance Evaluation of Titanate Nanotubes and Nanoribbons Deposited by Electrophoresis in Photoelectrodes of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Nanoparticles of TiO2 have been the main semiconductor applied in Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this work, titanate nanotubes (NaTiNT) and nanoribbons, were obtained by the hydrothermal method from TiO2 anatase. These materials were deposited on conductive substrate by electrophoresis, with and without thermal treatment, sensitized by ruthenium-based dye and used as work electrode. Exposing those photovoltaic devices to visible radiation, with films before thermal treatment, a short-circuit current density (JSC) of 0.0012 mA/cm2 was observed for the cell with NaTiNT, a current density of 0.0398 mA/cm2 for the cell with Nanoribbons, and a current density of 0.4028 mA/cm2 for the cell with TiO2 as electrode. After thermal treatment, a short-circuit current density of 0.4269 mA/cm2 was observed for the cell with NaTiNT, a current density of 0.0765 mA/cm2 for the Nanoribbons cell, and, finally, a current density of 0.3310 mA/cm2 for the cell with TiO2 as electrode. The new morphological, structural and optical characteristics of these nanoparticles may contribute for the development and research of new generation photovoltaic devices.