Titanium dioxide nanoparticles have been prepared by solution-phase methods in the three phases that occur naturally,
anatase, rutile, and brookite. The amorphous titania starting material was prepared from titanium(IV) iso-propoxide
using iso-propanol as solvent and a small quantity of water. The resulting material was treated hydrothermally in an acid
digestion vessel at temperatures between 175 °C and 230 °C with different reactants to obtain the three phases or
controlled mixtures of two phases. The nanomaterials were characterized by a variety of techniques, including X-ray
diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and UV-Vis absorbance
spectrophotometry. The results illustrate the relation between the properties of the nanoparticles in the colloid, in the
powder, and in nanostructured thin films prepared with the materials. A thorough understanding of synthesis methods is
essential for the preparation of nanomaterials with tailored structural, morphological, and ultimately, physical properties.
KEYWORDS: Dye sensitized solar cells, Image resolution, Solar cells, Image processing, Photovoltaics, Signal generators, Quantum efficiency, Sun, Signal processing, Solid state electronics
In this work we have analysed the application of the Laser Beam Induced Current technique to obtain high resolution images of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC). While this technique is widely used in the study of solar cells based on solid-state technology, its use is not so extended on DSSCs because of problems arising from the interaction between a focused laser beam and the biphase structure of such devices. We have studied the cell response to focused radiation and we have found that part of the current generated by a DSSC is caused by the activation of the radiated point while another part is generated by those points previously illuminated. Both parts of the signal have been analysed from a mathematical point of view to implement an algorithm for improving the LBIC images. When applied, the original LBIC images improve in clearness so that morphological differences can now be clearly distinguished.
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