Effect of hot-pressing on an electrospun TiO2 electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

A hot-pressing process is shown to enhance the adhesion of TiO2 nanofibers electrospun onto fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates for use in dye-sensitized solar cells. By using the resulting electrochemical impedance spectroscopic characteristics, the application of 7, 14, and 21 MPa of pressure was found to result in calculated lifetimes of 7.48, 15.13, and 13.74 ms, respectively. From the results of a thermogravimetric analysis, a stepped heat treatment was developed for calcination of the hot-pressed TiO2 electrodes. Hot-pressing at 14 MPa and 100 degrees C yielded the dye-sensitized solar cell with the highest energy conversion efficiency. (C) 2014 The Japan Society of Applied Physics