| The purpose of this dissertation research is to investigate the feasibility of using a direct flame synthesis technique for preparing mesoporous TiO 2 thin films for high efficiency Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC). DSSCs are photo-electrochemical cells with efficiencies comparable to that of traditional p-n junction solar cells. These cells have the potential to be fabricated substantially cheaper than other types of solar cells. However, the typical process of anode fabrication currently used for these cells, known as Sol-Gel, is a lengthy and complicated process which is a barrier to large scale fabrication of DSSCs.;It is shown that it is possible to use flame synthesis to produce efficient anodes for DSSCs. The technique, called Flame Stabilized on a Rotating Surface (FSRS), is a robust technique that combines nanoparticle synthesis and film deposition in one step, while maintaining great control over particle size, crystal phase and film thickness. In the first phase of the study, the property variations in the TiO2 nanoparticles are examined as a function of the flame synthesis condition. This is followed by a preliminary test of the mesoporous thin films in DSSCs to establish a baseline for the performance of the cells using the flame-synthesized thin films.;The work in the next phase of the study establishes the relationship among synthesis condition, particle/film properties and cell performance. Several cell characterization methods, including charge extraction and open circuit voltage decay are used to understand the relationship between cell performance and film properties. Finally, the potential of the flame synthesis method for producing tailored nano-scale TiO2 particles for high efficiency DSSCs are demonstrated, and the efficiencies are compared to other techniques used for synthesis of TiO2 anodes. The study demonstrates that Flame Stabilized on a Rotating Surface (FSRS) is an efficient technique to synthesize high efficiency DSSCs. |
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