Fabrication of a nanoparticle TiO2 photoelectrochemical cell utilizing a solid polymeric electrolyte of PAN-PC-LiClO4

• Main Authors: Taslim R., Rahman M.Y.A., Salleh M.M., Umar A.A., Ahmad A.
• Other Authors: 36009299200
• Format: Article
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Hydrolysis technique; Ionic conductivity; Nanoparticle TiO₂; PAN-PC-LiClO₄; Conductive films; Electron beams; Glass; Graphite electrodes; Hydrolysis; Indium; Indium compounds; Lithium; Photoelectrochemical cells; Polyvinyl chlorides; Propylene; Solid electrolytes; Spin glass; Substrates; Tin; Tin oxides; Titanium compounds; Average grain size; Controlled hydrolysis; Current transport mechanism; Electron beam evaporation; Glass slides; Glass substrates; Indium tin oxide; Lithium perchlorate; Rectification properties; Redox couple; Room-temperature conductivity; Solid polymeric electrolytes; TiO; Nanoparticles

A nanoparticle TiO2 solid-state photoelectrochemical cell utilizing as a solid electrolyte of poly(acrylonitrile)-propylene-carbonate-lithium perchlorate (PAN-PC-LiClO4) has been fabricated. The performance of the device has been tested in the dark and under illumination of 100-mW cm-2 light. A nanoparticle TiO2 film was deposited onto indium tin oxide-covered glass substrate by controlled hydrolysis technique assisted with spin-coating technique. The average grain size for the TiO2 film is 76 nm. LiClO4 salt was used as a redox couple. The room temperature conductivity of the electrolyte is 4.2�10-4 S cm-1. A graphite electrode was prepared onto a glass slide by electron beam evaporation technique. The device shows the rectification property in the dark and shows the photovoltaic effect under illumination. The best Jsc and Voc of the device were 2.82 ?A cm-2 and Voc of 0.58 V, respectively, obtained at the conductivity of 4.2�10-4 S cm-1 and intensity of 100 mW cm-2. The Jsc was improved by about three times by introducing nanoparticle TiO2 and by using a solid electrolyte of PAN-PC-LiClO4 replacing PVC-PC-LiClO4 in the device. The current transport mechanism of the cell is also presented in this paper. � 2010 Springer-Verlag.