Sains Malaysiana 42(7)(2013): 967–974

Sintesis dan Kawalan Morfologi Struktur-Nano TiO₂ Menggunakan Kaedah Hidroterma untuk Aplikasi sebagai Elektrod Sel Suria Sensitif Pewarna

(Synthesis and Morphology Control of T_iO₂ Nanostructures via Hydrothermal Method

for Applications as Electrodes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells)

An’amt Mohamed Noor*

Jabatan Sains Bumi, Fakulti Agro Industri Dan Sumber Asli, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan

Kampus Jeli, Beg Berkunci No. 100, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia

Huang Nay Ming & Lim Hong Ngee

Solid State Physics Research Group, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Shahidan Radiman, Sapizah Rahim, Shahrul Izwan Ahmad & Siti Aisyah Shamsudin

Program Sains Nuklear, Pusat Pengajian Fizik Gunaan, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, D.E. Malaysia

Mohd Ambar Yarmo

Pusat Pengajian Sains Kimia dan Teknologi Makanan, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, D.E. Malaysia

Mohd Shaiful Sajab

Pusat Pengajian Sains Bahan, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 Bangi, Selangor, D.E. Malaysia

Received: 21 February 2012/Accepted: 23 January 2013

ABSTRAK

Struktur-nano TiO₂ dengan pelbagai saiz dan bentuk telah disintesis melalui kaedah hidrotermal menggunakan serbuk nanozarah TiO₂ sebagai prekursor. Sistem hidrotermal yang mudah, murah dan bebas templet pada suhu rawatan 180ºC, pengaruh medium alkali dengan penambahan NaOH dan KOH ke atas saiz, morfologi dan sifat fotovoltaik struktur-nano TiO₂ telah dikaji. Sampel telah diperincikan oleh mikroskopi elektron transmisi (TEM), analisis penyebaran tenaga sinar-x (EDAX) manakala keupayaan fotovoltaik sel suria sensitif pewarna (DSSC) diukur menggunakan Gamry Potentiostat Series G-300. Hasil kajian dengan menggunakan agen alkali yang berlainan (NaOH dan KOH) jelas mempengaruhi morfologi TiO₂ dan sel suria sensitif pewarna yang terdiri daripada struktur nanorod TiO₂ menunjukkan keupayaan terbaik dengan voltan litar terbuka (Voc) sebanyak 416.8 mV, ketumpatan arus litar terbuka (Jsc) sebanyak 0.169 mA/cm₂ dan kecekapan penukaran (η) sebanyak 0.0232% di bawah iluminasi lampu xenon AM 1.5.

Kata kunci: Hidroterma; nanokeping; nanorod; nanotiub; nanowayar

ABSTRACT

Nanostructured TiO₂ with different sizes and shapes were synthesized through the hydrothermal method using TiO₂ nanoparticles powder as the precursor. Hydrothermal system that is easy, inexpensive and free-templates at 180ºC temperature treatment, the influence of alkaline medium with the addition of NaOH and KOH on the size, morphology and photovoltaic properties of TiO₂ nanostructures have been studied. Samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) while the ability of the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) were measured using Potentiostat Gamry Series G-300. The study by using different alkaline agent (NaOH and KOH) clearly influence the morphology of TiO₂ and the dye sensitized solar cells consisting of TiO₂ nanorod structure shows the best capability with an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 416.8 mV, a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 0.169 mA/cm² and a conversion efficiency (η) of 0.0232% under AM 1.5 xenon lamp illumination.

Keywords: Hydrothermal; nanorods; nanosheets; nanotubes; nanowires

REFERENCES

An’amt, M.N., Radiman, S., Huang, N.M., Yarmo, M.A., Ariyanto, N.P., Lim, H.N. & Muhamad, M.R. 2010. Sol-gel hydrothermal synthesis of bismuth-T_iO₂ nanocubes for dye-sensitized solar cell. Ceramics International 36: 2215-2220.

Attar, A.S., Ghamsari, M.S., Hajiesmaeilbaigi, F., Mirdamadi, S., Katagiri, K. & Koumoto, K. 2009. Sol-gel template synthesis and characterization of aligned anatase-T_iO₂ nanorod arrays with different diameter. Materials Chemistry and Physics 113: 856-860.

Bae, E. & Ohno, T. 2009. Exposed crystal surface-controlled rutile T_iO₂ nanorods prepared by hydrothermal treatment in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone). Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 91: 634-639.

Bwana, N.N. 2009. Comparison of the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells based on different T_iO2 electrode nanostructures. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 11: 1917-1923.

Centi, G. & Perathoner, S. 2007. Nano-architecture and reactivity of Titania catalytic materials. Quasi-1D nanostructures. Catalysis 20: 367-402.

Chen, J.S. & Lou, X.W. 2009. Anatase TiO₂ nanokeping: An ideal host structure for fast and efficient lithium insertion/extraction. Electrochemistry Communications 11(12): 2332-2335.

Huang, E.Y., Hsu, Y.C., Chen, J.G., Suryanarayanan, V., Lee, K.M. & HO, K.C. 2006. The effects of hydrothermal temperature and thickness of TiO₂ film on the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell. Solar Energy Materials and solar cells 90: 2391-2397

Lee, K. M., Suryanarayanan, V. & Ho, K.C. 2007. A study on the electron transport properties of T_iO₂ electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 91: 1416-1420.

Li, Q., Zhang, J., Liu, B., Li, M., Yu, S., Wang, L., Li, Z., Liu, D., Hou, Y., Zou, Y., Zou, B., Cui, T. & Zou, G. 2008. Synthesis and electrochemical properties of T_iO₂-B@C core-shell nanoribbons. Crystal Growth and Design 8: 1812-1814.

Lu, C.H., Wu, W.H. & Kale, R.B. 2008. Microemulsion-mediated hydrothermal synthesis of photocatalytic T_iO₂ powders. Journal of Hazardous Materials 154: 649-654.

Nag, M., Basak, P. & Manorama, S.V. 2007. Low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis of phase-pure rutile titania nanocrystals: Time temperature tuning of morphology and photocatalytic activity. Materials Research Bulletin 42: 1691-1704.

Oh, J.K., Lee, J.K., Kim, S.J. & Park, K.W. 2009. Synthesis of phase- and shape-controlled T_iO₂ nanoparticles via hydrothermal process. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 15: 270-274.

Pan, K., Zhang, Q., Wang, Q., Liu, Z., Wang, D., Li, J. & Bai, Y. 2007. The photoelectrochemical properties of dye sensitized solar cells made with T_iO₂ nanoribbons and nanoroads. Thin Solid Films 515: 4085-4091.

Prado, A.G.S. & Costa, L.L. 2009. Photocatalytic decouloration of malachite green dye by application of T_iO₂ nanotubes. Journal of Hazardous Materials 169: 297-301.

Prasad, K., Pinjari, D.V., Pandit, A.B. & Mhaske, S.T. 2010. Phase transformation of nanostructured titanium dioxide from anatase-to-rutile via combined ultrasound assisted sol-gel technique. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry 17: 409-415.

Qamar, M., Yoon, C.R., Oh, H.J. & Kim, S.J. 2006. The effect of synthesis conditions on the formation of titanats nanotubes. Journal of the Korean Physical Society 49: 1493-1496.

Qu, J., Gao, X.P., Li, G.R., Jiang, Q.W. & Yan, T.Y. 2009. Structure transformation and photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 nanomaterials calcined from titanat nanotubes. Journal of Physical Chemistry C 113: 3359-3363.

Quintana, M., Edvision, T., Hugfeldt, A. & Boschloo, G. 2007. Comparison of dye - sensitized ZnO and T_iO₂ solar cells: Studies of charge transport and carrier lifetime. Journal of Physical Chemistry C 111: 1035-1041.

Rana, S., Rawat, J. & Misra, R.D.K. 2005. Anti-microbial active composite nanoparticles with magnetic core and photocatalytic shell: T_iO₂-NiFe₂O₄ biomaterial system. Acta Biomaterialia 1: 691-703.

Sikhwivhilu, L.M., Sinha Ray, S. & Coville, N.J. 2009. Influence of bases on hydrothermal synthesis of titanat nanostructures.  Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing 94: 963-973.

Suzuki, Y., Pavasupree, S., Yoshikawa, S. & Kawahata, R. 2007. Direct synthesis of an anatase-T_iO₂ nanofiber/nanoparticle composite powder from natural rutile. Physica Status Solidi (A) Applications and Materials 204: 1757-1761.

Vasquez, J., Lozano, H., Lavayen, V., Lira-Cantu, M., Gomez-Romero, P., Ana, M.A.S., Benavente, E. & Gonzalez, G. 2009. High-Yield preparation of titanium dioxide nanostructures by hydrothermal conditions. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 9: 1103-1107.

Wang, B., Shi, Y. & Xue, D. 2007. Large aspect ratio titanat nanowire prepared by monodispersed titania submicron sphere via simple wet-chemical reactions. Journal of Solid State Chemistry 180: 1028-1037.

Wang, D., Zhou, F., Liu, Y. & Liu, W. 2008. Synthesis and characterization of anatase T_iO₂ nanotubes with uniform diameter from titanium powder. Materials Letters 62: 1819-1822.

Wang, D., Yu, B., Zhou, F., Wang, C. & Liu, W. 2009. Synthesis and characterization of anatase T_iO₂, nanotubes and their use in dye-sensitized solar cells. Materials Chemistry and Physies 113: 602-606.

Yuan, Z.Y. & Su, B.L. 2004. Titanium oxide nanotubes, nanofibers and nanowires. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 241: 173-183.

*Corresponding author; email: anamt_1003@yahoo.com