Effect of Quenching Temperature and Medium on Properties of TiO2 Nanotube Arrays in DSSC

TiO2nanotube arrays (TNAs) fabricated by anodization were quenched to obtain high-quality samples for the application of such electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The morphology, crystallization structure and photoelectrochemical properties of the samples were studied. The results showed that the quenched nanotubes assembled together into bundles but every single one maintained tubelike shape. In transient photocurrent response of electrode, photocurrent increased with the increasing of bias potential and photoelectrochemical properties of quenched electrodes were better than the unquenched, displaying obvious characterization of slow current response. When applied in DSSC, the sample quenched at-100 °C in ethanol displayed the best performance with Jsc= 4.186 mA/cm2, Voc= 0.781 V, FF = 0.48, η = 1.569 %.