Preparation of non-annealed anatase TiO2 film on ITO substrate by anodizing in hot phosphate/glycerol electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

In this study, mesoporous TiO2 films were formed on ITO conductive glasses by anodizing of titanium thin films without post-annealing. The titanium thin films, ～200 nm thick, sputter-deposited on to the ITO substrates were anodized at 20 V in a phosphate/glycerol electrolyte at 433 K. A completely transparent TiO2 specimen was obtained by anodizing for 60 s. The as-anodized mesoporous,TiO2 films consisted of anatase, even without post annealing. The transparent mesoporous TiO2 films anodized for a suitable time showed much better photoelectrochemical performance than the post-annealed TiO2 nanotubular film