Synthesis, characterization and nitrogen doping of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanotubes for application as electron carrier layer in perovskita solar cell
TiO2 is one of the most researched materials in contemporary materials science, due to a set of almost unique electronic properties, which allows its application in several areas, such as heterogeneous photocatalysis and solar cells. This work aims to study parameters (electrolyte concentration, pH, voltage and bath temperature) of TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) synthesis obtained from thin Ti films deposited in glass coated with fluoride doped tin oxide (FTO), for application as a carrier layer of electrons in perovskita based solar cells.
The deposition of Ti thin film was performed by r.f. magnetron sputtering technique and TiO2 nanotubes were obtained from the anodic oxidation process of Ti films in an electrolyte containing NH4F and ethylene glycol.
In addition, the influence of heat treatment with different temperature and time values was evaluated using a muffle furnace. The doping with nitrogen will be performed by heating NTs with urea (CH4N2O) in order to evaluate the changes in physical, morphological, electrical and optical characteristics of the material.
The nanotubes obtained had several nanometers in length (from 320 to 1000 nm), with typical wall thicknesses and intertubular spacing from 8 to 39 nm and pore diameters from 33 to 71 nm. After heat treatment at 450°C for 1h, the amorphous material crystallized in the anatase phase and became transparent.
The films were characterized by UV-Vis, Raman, X-ray diffraction, Scanning and Resistivity Electronic Microscopy techniques.