Synthesis and characterization of iron-doped TiO2 nanotubes for dye-sensitized solar cells

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Titanium dioxide nanotubes as materials for energy conversion were successfully synthesized, characterized and tested for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The TiO2 nanotubes were grown by one face anodization at room temperature on titanium sheets of 0.25 mm thickness and 99.7 % purity. The electrolyte was composed of ethylene glycol, ammonium fluoride (0.3 wt. % NH4F), deionized water (2 vol. % deionized water) and Fe(NO3)3 as dopant source with varying concentrations of 2, 4, 6 and 10 mM. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ultraviolet–visible spectrometry (UV-vis) techniques were used to characterize the TiO2nanotubes. Finally, the samples were tested in dye-sensitized solar cells and their conversion efficiencies were calculated. According to the results, amorphous TiO2 was transformed into the crystalline anatase phase after heat treatment. Under the given experimental conditions, our optimal results were obtained for the titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) at 6 mM of iron (III) nitrate. The maximum DSSC conversion efficiency was 4.66 % for the TNTs of 6 mM Fe(NO3)3. The findings of this research provide significant guidelines for current and future research in the development of renewable energy.