Preparation and characterization of low temperature sintering nanocrystalline TiO2 prepared via the sol-gel method using titanium(IV) butoxide applicable to flexible dye sensitized solar cells

Low temperature nanocrystalline titanium dioxide particles were prepared via the sol-gel method using titanium(IV) butoxide for fabrication of flexible dye sensitized solar cells. The prepared sample was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, specific surface area, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Results confirm that the synthesized sample was highly crystalline anatase TiO2 with an average particle size of 35 nm. The measured specific surface area for TiO2, powder and average surface roughness for TiO2 film were 61.11 m(2) g(-1) and 17.25 nm respectively. The prepared nano-scale TiO2 was then employed to fabricate flexible dye sensitized solar cell via the low temperature sintering and operated with a platinum counter electrode. The solar energy conversion efficiency for the cell fabricated with TiO2 nanoparticles was about 0.85%.