Talel Jebali, Zied Ben Hamed, Rached Ben Hassen, Noureddine Amdouni
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study presents the controlled synthesis of hierarchical TiO₂ nanostructures using the sol-gel method, with particular emphasis on the alcoholysis of titanium alkoxide precursors. The influence of polyhydroxy alcohols namely ethylene glycol (bearing two hydroxyl groups) and glycerol (with three hydroxyl groups) on the resulting TiO₂ morphology was systematically examined. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the morphology of TiO₂ can be finely tuned by selecting the appropriate polyhydroxy alcohol during the alcoholysis step. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the formation of TiO₂ in the pure anatase phase, with nanometric crystallite sizes, estimated using the Scherrer and Williamson-Hall methods. UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy highlighted notable variations in the optical band gap among the synthesized samples, reflecting changes in their electronic structures. Furthermore, photovoltaic tests conducted on a P3HT + 20% TiO₂ nanocomposite active layer showed marked enhancements in both short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage, underscoring the superior photovoltaic performance of these tailored nanostructures. Notably, the spontaneous self-assembly of TiO₂ into microspherical architectures contributed to improved interfacial contact between the organic and inorganic components, further boosting device efficiency. Overall, this work highlights the strong potential of hierarchical TiO₂ nanostructures in the development of next-generation solar energy conversion systems.
Graphical Abstract
The main objective is to highlight the polyhydroxy alcohol effect that controls the morphology of TiO2 microstructures through particle self-assembly. Secondly, to explore and optimize the photovoltaic properties of nanoparticles incorporating these TiO2 microstructures, in order to potentially improve solar cell efficiency through enhanced light absorption and charge transport capabilities.
本研究采用溶胶-凝胶法合成了层次化tio2纳米结构，重点研究了醇解醇化钛前驱体。系统地考察了多羟基醇即乙二醇（含两个羟基）和甘油（含三个羟基）对所得tio2形貌的影响。扫描电镜（SEM）分析表明，在醇解过程中，通过选择合适的多羟基醇，可以很好地调节tio2的形貌。x射线衍射（XRD）模式证实了tio2在纯锐钛矿相中形成，并使用Scherrer和Williamson-Hall方法估计了纳米级晶体尺寸。紫外-可见反射光谱显示了合成样品之间光学带隙的显著变化，反映了其电子结构的变化。此外，在P3HT + 20% TiO 2纳米复合活性层上进行的光伏测试表明，P3HT + 20% TiO 2纳米复合活性层的短路电流和开路电压均有显著增强，表明这些定制纳米结构具有优越的光伏性能。值得注意的是，TiO 2自发自组装成微球形结构有助于改善有机和无机组分之间的界面接触，进一步提高器件效率。总的来说，这项工作突出了分层tio2纳米结构在下一代太阳能转换系统开发中的强大潜力。主要目的是强调多羟基醇效应通过粒子自组装控制TiO2微观结构的形态。其次，探索和优化包含这些TiO2微结构的纳米颗粒的光伏性能，以期通过增强光吸收和电荷传输能力来提高太阳能电池的效率。
期刊介绍：
The primary objective of the Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology (JSST), the official journal of the International Sol-Gel Society, is to provide an international forum for the dissemination of scientific, technological, and general knowledge about materials processed by chemical nanotechnologies known as the "sol-gel" process. The materials of interest include gels, gel-derived glasses, ceramics in form of nano- and micro-powders, bulk, fibres, thin films and coatings as well as more recent materials such as hybrid organic-inorganic materials and composites. Such materials exhibit a wide range of optical, electronic, magnetic, chemical, environmental, and biomedical properties and functionalities. Methods for producing sol-gel-derived materials and the industrial uses of these materials are also of great interest.
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