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i
FLAME SYNTHESIS OF TiO2 NANOPARTICLES FOR APPLICATIONS
IN
DYE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS
by
Saro Nikraz
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(AEROSPACE ENGINEERING)
August 2012
Copyright 2012 Saro Nikraz
Object Description
| Title | Flame synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles and its application in dye sensitized solar cells |
| Author | Nikraz, Saro |
| Author email | saro.nikraz@gmail.com;saro.nikraz@gmail.com |
| Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Document type | Dissertation |
| Degree program | Aerospace Engineering |
| School | Viterbi School of Engineering |
| Date defended/completed | 2012-04-20 |
| Date submitted | 2012-07-26 |
| Date approved | 2012-07-26 |
| Restricted until | 2012-07-26 |
| Date published | 2012-07-26 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Wang, Hai |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Phares, Denis Dapkus, Daniel |
| Abstract | The purpose of this dissertation research is to investigate the feasibility of using a direct flame synthesis technique for preparing mesoporous TiO₂ 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. |
| Keyword | flame; synthesis; dye; photovoltaics; TiO₂; titania; combustion; aerospace; mechanical; engineering; electrolyte; electrochemistry; battery; cell |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Provenance | Electronically uploaded by the author |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m |
| Rights | Nikraz, Saro |
| Access conditions | The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright. The original signature page accompanying the original submission of the work to the USC Libraries is retained by the USC Libraries and a copy of it may be obtained by authorized requesters contacting the repository e-mail address given. |
| Repository name | University of Southern California Digital Library |
| Repository address | USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 7002, 106 University Village, Los Angeles, California 90089-7002, USA |
| Repository email | cisadmin@usc.edu |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume4/etd-NikrazSaro-1026.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 1 |
| Full text | i FLAME SYNTHESIS OF TiO2 NANOPARTICLES FOR APPLICATIONS IN DYE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS by Saro Nikraz A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (AEROSPACE ENGINEERING) August 2012 Copyright 2012 Saro Nikraz |
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