Title: Solvothermal synthesis and microstructure of TiO₂ nanowires on transparent conducting oxide substrate

Authors: Ho Sy Van Minh; Nguyen Hoa Du; Luu Tien Hung; Nguyen Thi Quynh Hoa

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, Vinh University, 182 Le Duan, Vinh, Vietnam ' Department of Chemistry, Vinh University, 182 Le Duan, Vinh, Vietnam ' Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Vinh University, 182 Le Duan, Vinh, Vietnam ' Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Vinh University, 182 Le Duan, Vinh, Vietnam

Abstract: TiO₂ nanowires were synthesised directly on FTO by solvothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to characterise the TiO₂ nanowires. The TiO₂ nanowire formation was critically affected by reaction temperature and titanium precursor. The high density and well-aligned TiO₂ nanowires were formed using a mixed precursor of TiCl₄ and Ti(OC₄H₉)₄ at 180°C. The nanowires had a single-crystalline structure and grew along the <001> zone-axis rutile phase. This approach represents an advance toward a low-temperature growth of well-aligned TiO₂ nanowires on transparent conducting oxide for their potential applications in dye-sensitised solar cell.

Keywords: TiO2 nanowires; nanostructures; photocatalysis; solvothermal method; hydrothermal; titania; nanotechnology; transparent conducting oxide; dye-sensitised solar cells; microstructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2013.053135

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2013 Vol.10 No.3/4, pp.222 - 227

Published online: 05 Apr 2013 *

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