Photoelectrodes with titanate nanotubes sensitized by mesoporphyrin derivative from cashew nut shell

Authors

  • Antonio Paulo Santos Souza
  • Ana Fabíola Leite Almeida
  • Leila de Souza Conegero
  • Bartolomeu Cruz Viana
  • Odair Pastor Ferreira
  • Francisco Klayton Marques de Alencar
  • Selma Elaine Mazzetto
  • Pierre Basílio Almeida Fechine
  • Manuel Pedro Fernandes Graça
  • Francisco Nivaldo Aguiar Freire

Abstract

Titanate nanotubes (TiNTs) with the chemical composition Na2Ti3O7.nH2O (NaTiNT) were obtained through
a hydrothermal method in highly alkaline medium. Protonated titanates nanotubes (H-TiNTs), with the composition
H2Ti3O7.nH2O, were prepared by ion exchange reaction through a suspension of Na2Ti3O7nH2O
nanotubes in HCl medium, promoting the exchange of Na+ ions by H+. Both Na2Ti3O7.nH2O and
H2Ti3O7.nH2O products, as well the TiO2 used as raw material for the nanotubes processing, were used as
starting material for the solar cells photoelectrodes sensitized using mesoporphyrin extracted from a precursor
of cashew nut shell. Exposing the NaTiNT sample to solar radiation of 1258 W/m2, a short-circuit current
density (ISC) of 13 A/cm2 and an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 370 mV were registered and, a current density
of 7.6 A/cm2 and a voltage of 256 mV for the prototype cell based on H-TiNTs. A current density of 1.1
A/cm2 and an open-circuit voltage of 1.6 mV were obtained for the cell using TiO2 as electrode.
Keywords: Titanate Nanotubes. Ionic exchange. Mesoporphyrin. Dye-sensitized solar cell.

Published

2019-07-12

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Section

Artigos