Influence of tert-butylpyridine on the band energetics of nanostructured TiO2 electrodes and the photoelectrochemical properties of dye-seneitized electrodes

Authors

Shu-ming YANG, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Applied Chemistry, Xinyang Normal University, Henan, China, 464000;Follow
Ji-chao WANG, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Applied Chemistry, Xinyang Normal University, Henan, China, 464000;
Hui-zhi KOU, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Applied Chemistry, Xinyang Normal University, Henan, China, 464000;
Hong-bin XUE, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Applied Chemistry, Xinyang Normal University, Henan, China, 464000;
Hong-jun WANG, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Applied Chemistry, Xinyang Normal University, Henan, China, 464000;
Yu-ling GUO, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Applied Chemistry, Xinyang Normal University, Henan, China, 464000;

Corresponding Author

Shu-ming YANG(smyang2006@163.com)

Abstract

The flat band edges (Efb) of nanostructured TiO2 electrodes in electrolyte solutions with tert-butylpyridine (TBP) of different concentrations have been determined with spectroelectrochemical technique. TBP played a role in band energetics of nanostructured TiO2 electrodes. The Efb values of -2.25, -2.46 and -2.62 V were determined in three 0.2 mol•L-1 tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) acetonitrile electrolytes which contain 0, 0.2 and 0.4 mol•L-1 TBP respectively. The addition of Li+ ions shifted Efb positively. The Efb values of -1.12, -1.22 and -1.30 V were determined in three 0.2 mol•L-1 LiClO4 acetonitrile electrolytes which contain 0, 0.2 and 0.4 mol•L-1 TBP respectively. The trap state distribution was investigated by the measurements of time resolved current. The total trap state densities of 3.52 × 1016, 3.18 × 1016 and 3.37 × 1016 cm-2 were determined in three 0.2 mol•L-1 TBAP acetonitrile electrolytes which contain 0, 0.2 and 0.4 mol•L-1 TBP respectively with trap distribution maximum located at -1.99, -1.89 and -1.85 V. The addition of Li+ ions further reduced the trap state densities. The total trap state densities of 8.39 × 1015, 1.11 × 1016 and 9.22 × 1015 cm-2 were determined in three 0.2 mol•L-1 LiClO4 acetonitrile electrolytes which contain 0, 0.2 and 0.4 mol•L-1 TBP respectively with trap distribution maximum located at -0.72, -0.84 and -0.95 V. Finally the nanostructured TiO2 electrodes were sensitized with dye N3 and their photoelectrochemical properties were studied in electrolytes with TBP of different concentrations. Experiment results showed that as the concentration of TBP increased, the photoelectric conversion efficiency increased due to improved Voc.

Graphical Abstract

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.61558/2993-074X.2090

Publication Date

2011-05-28

Online Available Date

2011-05-06

Revised Date

2011-01-06

Received Date

2010-11-18

Recommended Citation

Shu-ming YANG, Ji-chao WANG, Hui-zhi KOU, Hong-bin XUE, Hong-jun WANG, Yu-ling GUO. Influence of tert-butylpyridine on the band energetics of nanostructured TiO2 electrodes and the photoelectrochemical properties of dye-seneitized electrodes[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2011 , 17(2): 204-211.
DOI: 10.61558/2993-074X.2090
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol17/iss2/10