Synthesis of high-surface-area titanium dioxide by sol-gel process for DSSC

Mesoporous TiO2 material was synthesized from dissolution ilmenite as well as from titanium chloride precursor via a sol-gel process in acidic aqueous solution. The properties of these materials were characterized with several analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) analysis. The mesoporous TiO2 materials calcinated at various temperatures were found to have high value surface areas. The photovoltaic of photo-anode build from the mesoporous TiO2 was characterized with I-V Keitley Multimeter, and it was found that photovoltaics fabricated using the mesoporous TiO2 have a good performance. Such a high photovoltaic activity is explained with large surface area and small crystal size.