Effect of Aging Time and Film Thickness on the Photoelectrochemical Properties of TiO2 Sol-Gel Photoanodes
This work has focused on the investigation of a non-aqueous based sol-gel process to produce TiO2 based photoelectrodes for solar water splitting. In particular, the effect of the aging time of the sol and TiO2 film thickness on the photoelectrochemical properties of the photoanodes has been investi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2014-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Photoenergy |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/472539 |
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| author | D. Regonini A. K. Alves F. A. Berutti F. Clemens |
| author_facet | D. Regonini A. K. Alves F. A. Berutti F. Clemens |
| author_sort | D. Regonini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This work has focused on the investigation of a non-aqueous based sol-gel process to produce TiO2 based photoelectrodes for solar water splitting. In particular, the effect of the aging time of the sol and TiO2 film thickness on the photoelectrochemical properties of the photoanodes has been investigated. In order to achieve optimal performances (i.e., photocurrent density up to 570 µA/cm2 and IPCE of 26% at 300 nm), the sol needs to be aged for 3 to 6 h, before being dip-coated to produce the photoanodes. The importance of the aging time can also be appreciated from the optical properties of the TiO2 films; the absorbance threshold of the sol-gel aged for 3–6 h is slightly shifted towards longer wavelenghts in comparison to 0 h aging. Aging is necessary to build up a well-interconnected sol-gel network which finally leads to a photoelectrode with optimized light absorption and electron collection properties. This is also confirmed by the higher IPCE signal of aged photoelectrodes, especially below 340 nm. Among thicknesses considered, there is no apparent significant difference in the photoresponse (photocurrent density and IPCE) of the TiO2 sol-gel films. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-284e07db5395466d925219ad7a701fdd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1110-662X 1687-529X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Photoenergy |
| spelling | doaj-art-284e07db5395466d925219ad7a701fdd2025-02-03T01:20:23ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1110-662X1687-529X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/472539472539Effect of Aging Time and Film Thickness on the Photoelectrochemical Properties of TiO2 Sol-Gel PhotoanodesD. Regonini0A. K. Alves1F. A. Berutti2F. Clemens3Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, SwitzerlandLaboratory of Ceramic Materials, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 99 Osvaldo Aranha Avenue, 90035-190 Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilLaboratory of Ceramic Materials, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 99 Osvaldo Aranha Avenue, 90035-190 Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilLaboratory for High Performance Ceramics, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, SwitzerlandThis work has focused on the investigation of a non-aqueous based sol-gel process to produce TiO2 based photoelectrodes for solar water splitting. In particular, the effect of the aging time of the sol and TiO2 film thickness on the photoelectrochemical properties of the photoanodes has been investigated. In order to achieve optimal performances (i.e., photocurrent density up to 570 µA/cm2 and IPCE of 26% at 300 nm), the sol needs to be aged for 3 to 6 h, before being dip-coated to produce the photoanodes. The importance of the aging time can also be appreciated from the optical properties of the TiO2 films; the absorbance threshold of the sol-gel aged for 3–6 h is slightly shifted towards longer wavelenghts in comparison to 0 h aging. Aging is necessary to build up a well-interconnected sol-gel network which finally leads to a photoelectrode with optimized light absorption and electron collection properties. This is also confirmed by the higher IPCE signal of aged photoelectrodes, especially below 340 nm. Among thicknesses considered, there is no apparent significant difference in the photoresponse (photocurrent density and IPCE) of the TiO2 sol-gel films.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/472539 |
| spellingShingle | D. Regonini A. K. Alves F. A. Berutti F. Clemens Effect of Aging Time and Film Thickness on the Photoelectrochemical Properties of TiO2 Sol-Gel Photoanodes International Journal of Photoenergy |
| title | Effect of Aging Time and Film Thickness on the Photoelectrochemical Properties of TiO2 Sol-Gel Photoanodes |
| title_full | Effect of Aging Time and Film Thickness on the Photoelectrochemical Properties of TiO2 Sol-Gel Photoanodes |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Aging Time and Film Thickness on the Photoelectrochemical Properties of TiO2 Sol-Gel Photoanodes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Aging Time and Film Thickness on the Photoelectrochemical Properties of TiO2 Sol-Gel Photoanodes |
| title_short | Effect of Aging Time and Film Thickness on the Photoelectrochemical Properties of TiO2 Sol-Gel Photoanodes |
| title_sort | effect of aging time and film thickness on the photoelectrochemical properties of tio2 sol gel photoanodes |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/472539 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dregonini effectofagingtimeandfilmthicknessonthephotoelectrochemicalpropertiesoftio2solgelphotoanodes AT akalves effectofagingtimeandfilmthicknessonthephotoelectrochemicalpropertiesoftio2solgelphotoanodes AT faberutti effectofagingtimeandfilmthicknessonthephotoelectrochemicalpropertiesoftio2solgelphotoanodes AT fclemens effectofagingtimeandfilmthicknessonthephotoelectrochemicalpropertiesoftio2solgelphotoanodes |