Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on TiO₂ Nanoparticles Modified by Wet Milling

Abstract

TiO 2 nanoparticles were produced from a commercial anatase powder through a wet milling process. The effect of grinding intensity, which is directly dependent on the operating parameters, was analyzed and the performance of polyethylene glycol (PEG400) as a dispersing agent in the milling system was also tested. The results showed that the processes using polyethylene glycol achieved a greater fragmentation of particles. This could be observed in the histograms made from SEM images taken from samples of powders from the processes, whose populations reached an average size of approximately 90 nm. The TiO 2 powders obtained by milling were then used in the manufacture of dye-sensitized solar cells. It was verified that the powders produced using the dispersing agent achieved the greatest efficiencies, the highest being 0.94%. The current produced by the cells proved to be very low compared to the voltages obtained which gave acceptable values up to 0.81 V.