Dye sensitized solar cell applications of CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} composite thin films deposited from single molecular complex

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry 2015-10, Vol.230
• Main Authors: Ehsan, Muhammad Ali, Khaledi, Hamid, Pandikumar, Alagarsamy, Huang, Nay Ming, Arifin, Zainudin, Mazhar, Muhammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACETATES; AEROSOLS; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION; DOPED MATERIALS; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; MICROSTRUCTURE; MONOCRYSTALS; RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; SOLAR CELLS; SUBSTRATES; SYNTHESIS; TETRAHYDROFURAN; THIN FILMS; TIN OXIDES; TITANATES; TITANIUM OXIDES; X-RAY DIFFRACTION; X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1016/J.JSSC.2015.06.041

A heterobimetallic complex [Cd{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}(μ-O){sub 6}(TFA){sub 8}(THF){sub 6}]·1.5THF (1) (TFA=trifluoroacetato, THF=tetrahydrofuran) comprising of Cd:Ti (1:2) ratio was synthesized by a chemical reaction of cadmium (II) acetate with titanium (IV) isopropoxide and triflouroacetic acid in THF. The stoichiometry of (1) was recognized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic and elemental analyses. Thermal studies revealed that (1) neatly decomposes at 450 °C to furnish 1:1 ratio of cadmium titanate:titania composite oxides material. The thin films of CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} composite oxides were deposited at 550 °C on fluorine doped tin oxide coated conducting glass substrate in air ambient. The micro-structure, crystallinity, phase identification and chemical composition of microspherical architectured CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} composite thin film have been determined by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The scope of composite thin film having band gap of 3.1 eV was explored as photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell application. - Graphical abstarct: Microspherical designed CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} composite oxides photoanode film has been fabricated from single source precursor [Cd{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}(μ-O){sub 6}(TFA){sub 8}(THF){sub 6}]·1.5THF via aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition technique for dye sensitized solar cell application. - Highlights: • Synthesis and characterization of a heterobimetallic Cd–Ti complex. • Fabrication of CdTiO{sub 3}–TiO{sub 2} thin film photoelectrode. • Application as dye sensitized photoanode for solar application.