Enhanced Performance of Nanowire-Based All-TiO2 Solar Cells using Subnanometer-Thick Atomic Layer Deposited ZnO Embedded Layer

In this paper, the effect of angstrom-thick atomic layer deposited (ALD) ZnO embedded layer on photovoltaic (PV) performance of Nanowire-Based All-TiO2 solar cells has been systematically investigated. Our results indicate that by varying the thickness of ZnO layer the efficiency of the solar cell can be significantly changed. It is shown that the efficiency has its maximum for optimal thickness of 1 ALD cycle in which this ultrathin ZnO layer improves device performance through passivation of surface traps without hampering injection efficiency of photogenerated electrons. The mechanisms contributing to this unprecedented change in PV performance of the cell have been scrutinized and discussed. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd

TiB2-reinforced composite coating by gas tungsten arc welding

In situ synthesized TiB2-reinforced Fe-based coating was fabricated by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) on AISI-4340 steel substrate using cheaper Fe-Ti, Fe-Cr, Fe-W, Fe-B alloys and B2O3 powders. The effects of processing parameters on the coating were investigated experimentally. Primary dendrites of ferrite (alpha) phase and complex TiB2, Fe2B borides were detected at the coated surface. The experimental results show that either coated surface or interface microstructures were formed by the distribution of particularly boron and titanium concentration. The difference in hardness of the microstructures is specifically attributed to the type of borides. The type, dimension, and the volume concentration changes of borides were correlated with the parameters as the concentration of additives and the dilution from the base material. The surfaces were subsequently characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential thermal analysis (DTA)

Synthesis of TiB2-reinforced iron-based composite coating

Titanium diboride (TiB2) particulate reinforced Fe-based alloy composite coating was produced with ferrotitaniurn (FeTi), ferroboron (FeB), ferrotungsten (FeW), ferrochromium (FeCr), ferrovanadium (FeV) and ferromolybdenum (FeMo) powders by using gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. The effects of GTAW processing on the microstructure of AISI-4340 alloy coating with ferro-alloy powders were investigated experimentally. Abrasive wear tests were performed on the coated surface of samples to examine the influence of vol% and the size of boride on wear rates. Depending on the results, it was seen that the samples coated by FeTi-FeW-FeB ferro-alloy powders mixture have the highest wear resistance. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of Au nano-particles on TiO2 nanorod electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

Au nano particles (NPs) were deposited on vertically grown TiO2 nanorod arrays on FTO substrate by hydrothermal process. Metal nanoparticles were loaded onto the surface of TiO2 nanorods via photochemical reduction process under ultraviolet irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis were used to characterize the as-prepared Au/TiO2 nanorod composites. Current density-voltage (I-V) measurements were obtained from a two-electrode sandwich type cell. The presence of Au nanoparticles can help the electron-hole separation by attracting photoelectrons. Addition of Au nanoparticles to the TiO2 nanorod significantly increased the fill factor and J(SC) (short circuit current density). The application of Au NPs TiO2 nanorods in improving the performance of DSSCs is promising

Effect of Au nano-particles on TiO 2 nanorod electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

Au nano particles (NPs) were deposited on vertically grown TiO 2 nanorod arrays on FTO substrate by hydrothermal process. Metal nanoparticles were loaded onto the surface of TiO 2 nanorods via photochemical reduction process under ultraviolet irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis were used to characterize the as-prepared Au/TiO 2 nanorod composites. Current density-voltage (J-V) measurements were obtained from a two-electrode sandwich type cell. The presence of Au nanoparticles can help the electron-hole separation by attracting photoelectrons. Addition of Au nanoparticles to the TiO 2 nanorod significantly increased the fill factor and J SC (short circuit current density). The application of Au NPs TiO 2 nanorods in improving the performance of DSSCs is promising. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved