Preparation of highly ordered mesoporous Al2O3/TiO2 and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells

Highly ordered mesoporous Al(2)O(3)/TiO(2) was prepared by sol-gel reaction and evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) for use in dye-sensitized solar cells. The prepared materials had two-dimensional, hexagonal pore structures with anatase crystalline phases. The average pore size of mesoporous Al(2)O(3)/TiO(2) remained uniform and in the range of 6.33-6.58 nm while the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area varied from 181 to 212 m(2)/g with increasing the content of Al(2)O(3). The incorporation of Al content retarded crystallite growth, thereby decreasing crystallite size while simultaneously improving the uniformity of pore size and volume. The thin Al(2)O(3) layer was located mostly on the mesopore surface, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Al(2)O(3) coating on the mesoporous TiO(2) film contributes to the essential energy barrier which blocks the charge recombination process in dye-sensitized solar cells. Mesoporous Al(2)O(3)/TiO(2) (1 mol % Al(2)O(3)) exhibited enhanced power conversion efficiency (V(oc) = 0.74 V, J(sc) = 15.31 mA/cm(2), fill factor = 57%, efficiency = 6.50%) compared to pure mesoporous TiO(2) (V(oc) = 0.72 V, J(sc) = 16.03 mA/cm(2), fill factor = 51%, efficiency = 5.88%). Therefore, the power conversion efficiency was improved by approximately 10.5%. In particular, the increase in V(oc) and fill factor resulted from the inhibition of charge recombination and the improvement of pore structure.