Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on

Nanostructures (ICNS4)

12-14 March 2012, Kish Island, I.R. Iran

APP 187

Dye Sensitized Solar Cell with Chromium Substrate for Photoanode: Enhanced Efficiency by Amorphous TiO2 Sol Treatment
F. Behrouznejad, N. Taghavinia* Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 111559161, Iran *Taghavinia@sharif.edu

the layer deposited in ethanol. Currentvoltage (I-V) characteristics of the cells indicate that for the case of the cells made by the layer formed in ethanol, the internal resistance of the cell is more than that of pentanol medium which would decrease the efficiency of the cell. This difference was attributed to the reduction of effective surface area and also the loss of particles interconnection as a result of the presence of aggregates within the layer obtained in ethanol. Keywords: Electrophoretic deposition, DSSC, Ethanol, Pentanol APP 190

Transparent fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) is replaced with chromium as the substrate of photoanode in a dye sensitized solar cell (DSC). The effect of Cr substrate treatment with a 1%wt amorphous sol of TiO2(with nanoparticles less than 10 nm) on cell performance is studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that this layer is a compact layer that increases interconnections between mesoporous layer of TiO2 and rough electrodeposited layer of Cr. Current-voltage measurement reveals that this deposition increases efficiency of cell up to 90% of initial value (for a 3-4 m layer, from 0.78 % to 1.48%). Keywords: Dye sensitized solar cell; Amorphous sol of TiO2; Chromium electrodeposition APP 188

APP

Investigation on Photovoltaic Performance of Hollow Sphere/nanoparticle Composite TiO2 Electrodes for Solid state Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
G.Sadoughia, R. Mohammadpoura, A. Irajizada, b*, N. Taghaviniaa, b, Sh. Dadgostarc, F. Tajabadib a Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 14588-89694, Iran b Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 111559161, Iran c Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, TarbiatModares University, Tehran, 14155-4838, Iran *Iraji@sharif.edu

Mesoporous TiO2 Electrodes with Different Thickness for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Application
M. Abdi Jalebi, A. M. Bakhshayesh, M. R. Mohammadi * Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran *mohammadi@sharif.ir

Mesoporous TiO2 films with different thicknesses were prepared for dye sensitized solar cell application using dip coating method. The crystal structure and morphology of the films were studied by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The optical properties of the films were investigated through UVVis absorption. With increasing film thickness from 3.1 to 13.9 m, the efficiency increases from 0.81 to 3.09 %. Keywords: TiO2; Dye sensitized solar cell; Dip coating method APP 189

In this work, we report on fabrication and characterization of solidstate dye-sensitized solar cells (ss-DSC) based on TiO2 hollow sphere/ nanoparticle composite electrodes. TiO2 hollow sphere (HSs) were prepared by a facile sacrificial templating method, then it was grounded and added in different ratios to TiO2 nanoparticle (NP) paste, from which composite HS/NP electrodes were fabricated. The composite TiO2 films include hollow spheres of 300-700 nm. By optimizing the amount of HSs in the paste, 40% improvement in efficiency was obtained in comparison to ss-DSC utilized pure NP electrodes. By increasing the fraction of HSs in the electrode the current density increased by 56% (from 2.5 to 3.9 mA.cm-2). Electron transport and lifetime measurements were performed to investigate the photovoltaic performance of ss-DSCs. Composite electrodes have enhanced light absorption since the size of the hollow spheres is in the range of visible light. Electron transport time and electron lifetime have significantly improved because of different trap distribution of HSs. The charge collection efficiency was enhanced significantly over a wide range of electron energy distribution, leading to improvement in the performance of solar cells. Keywords: Solid state dye sensitized solar cells; Hollow sphere; P3HT; Charge collection efficiency APP 191

Fabrication and Comparison of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells using Electrophoretically Deposited TiO2 Nanoparticles in Ethanol and Pentanol Suspensions
A.A. Sadeghi*, T. Ebadzadeh, B. Raissi, S.M.A.Fateminia Ceramic department, Material and Energy Research Center, Karaj, 31631787, Iran *sadeghi.ali.a@gmail.com

Synthesis of Pt/CMK-3 Catalyst for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage in MIL-101 by Hydrogen Spillover Effect
S. Mandegarzada, M. Anbiab*, E. Motaeea a Research Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, Tehran14335-186, Iran b Research Laboratory of Nanoporous Materials, Faculty of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran 16846, Iran *anbia@iust.ac.ir

In the present study, we report preparation of TiO2 thin films using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of nanoparticles from two alcoholic media, ethanol and pentanol, for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The microstructure of the films formed by this process is investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) that showed a non-uniform porous layer is obtained in ethanol; however, deposition from the titanium dioxide/pentanol suspension resulted in the formation of a relatively uniform microstructure. The optical microscopy (OM) analysis confirms that we obtain crack-free layes with a thickness of 12 m. Ultravioletvisible (UVVis) spectra of adsorbed dye on the two layers show that more dye is loaded on

This research deals with investing of the effect of order mesoporous carbon CMK-3 as a support on Pt catalyst activities and dissociation of hydrogen molecules and enhanced hydrogen adsorption on modified MIL-101 in ambient temperature. The isotherm of these unmodified and modified samples is investigated using volumetric method at 298K and the pressure ranging from 1-20 bar. Also the synthesized

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Abstract Book |INST| Sharif University of Technology|

Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on

Nanostructures (ICNS4)

12-14 March 2012, Kish Island, I.R. Iran

Keywords: Hydrogen adsorption; Pt/CMK-3; MIL-101; Hydrogen spillover effect; Ambient temperature APP 192

Fabrication of Metal-Polyaniline Nanofiber Composites for Energy Storage Applications

S. H. Kazemia*, R. Mohamadia, L. Eskandarianb, A. A. Safaria a Department of Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan 45137-66731, Iran, b Department of Textile Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran *habibkazemi@iasbs.ac.ir

N. Naseria, A.Z. Moshfegha, b * a Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran b Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, 14588-89694, Tehran, Iran *moshfegh@sharif.edu

Present article is an attempt to develop methods to increase the conductivity of polyaniline (PANi) nanofibers. Herein, an approach for synthesis of Ag nanoparticle-incorporated PANi nanofibers was employed. Interfacial synthesized PANi nanofibers were dissolved in hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution and used as seeds to afford the polymerization of aniline and therefore manufacture PANinanofibers. Also, transition metal-doped PANi nanofibers were chemically prepared by adding inorganic salts (e.g. MnSO4, CuSO4) as the additives via a self-assembly process. High conductivity was observed for these metal-PANi nanofiber composites at room temperature against single PANi nanofibers, which was previously reported. The conductivity of samples was measured; also scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UVVisspectroscopy were applied for the characterization of the products. Finally, viability of the composites to use as electrode materials for supercapacitor application was tested by electrochemical methods. Keywords: Polyaniline nanofiber; Nanoparticles; Seeding polymerization; Supercapacitor APP 193

Au:WO3 nanocomposite thin film photoanodes have been synthesized using a simple low cost sol-gel method. Au concentration varied from 0 to 20 mol% in the samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed formation of big islands with a typical size of 600 m including nanoprticles of 50 nm in diameter. Based on Atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations, the samples with 1mol% Au has the highest surface roughness and effective surface.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed by increasing Au concentration, concentration of Au1+ chemical state increased on the surface. The best photoelectrochemical performance was observed for the sample containing 1 mol% Au leading to generation of hydrogen with a rate of about 2.4 mol h-1. Keywords: Ionic state, surface interface; Charge transport resistance; Hydrogen generation, Peroxide APP 195

Desalination of Water Using Nanoparticles of Husk Ashes in Sand Filter

J. Abedi-Koupai*, E.Mohri-Esfahani
Department of Water Engineering, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran * koupai@cc.iut.ac.ir

Fabrication of Ni Attached MWCNTs through Electroless Deposition Technique: Investigation of ElectrochemicalHydrogen Evolution
N. Rahimia, M.M. Doroodmandb, c*, S. Sabbaghia, M. H. Sheikhic a Nano Chemical Engineering Department, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran b Chemistry Department, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran c Nanotechnology Research Institute, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran *Doroodmand@shirazu.ac.ir

An electroless deposition technique was used to decorate Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with Ni nanoparticles. Electrochemical hydrogen storage behaviour of prepared nanocomposite was studied. Nanocomposite electrode was prepared by mixing this nanocomposite with micro hydride resin composite.Acetone was added as solvent to

Desalination technologyis a constant source to produce water and to overcome the water shortage in the dry and desert areas and near-sea countries. Application of new technologies (such as nanotechnology) is a possible method to improve the performance of sand filter in drip irrigation system. In this paper, Rice husk ash (RHA) and almond husk ash (AHA) were produced in 2 sizes miliparticles and nanoparticles. Two volumes percent, 10 and 20, were considered for mixing the particles with sand filter. Saline water (12 dSm-1) was entered into the sand filter, placed in a Plexiglass container, under two flow rates of 3 and 6 m3hr-1. Electrical conductivity (EC), sodium (Na+), Calcium (Ca2+), carbonate (CO32-), bicarbonate (HCO3-), chloride (Cl-), magnesium(Mg2+), sulphate (SO42-), hardness, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), pH were measured in the outlet water. The results showed, after using nanoparticles, we had a remarkable reduction in chemical parameters in the outlet water. The highest removal (93.6%) was related to AHA nanoparticles with 10% volume and flow rateof 6 m3hr-1. With the flow rateof 3 m3hr-1 the highest rate of EC reduction, were obtained 94.2 and 93 percent, using 10 and 20 percent of RHA, respectively. Keywords: Desalination; Saline water; Rice husk ash; Almond husk ash Abstract Book |INST| Sharif University of Technology|

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APP

samples are characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. Through these modification with Pt (20wt%)/CMK-3 and carbon bridge, the hydrogen uptake is almost twice that of pristine sample. The storage capacity of modified MIL-101 at 20 bar and 298 K are found to be 1.34wt% which are significantly improved as compared to the pure MIL-101. Because the Pt nanoparticles are uniformly distributed inside the mesopores of CMK-3 supports. Therefore Pt catalytic activities in dissociation of hydrogen molecules was improved which was leading to significant changes in hydrogen sorption properties in room temperature.

improve the homogeneity of nanocomposite. MWCNTs were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements were utilized at potential ranging from -1.6 to +0.6 V (vs Ag/AgCl), to study the electrochemical hydrogen storage behavior of nanocomposite material. Hydrogen adsorption/desorption occurred in -1.0 and 0.0 V, respectively. Keywords: Hydrogen; MWCNTs; Composite; Ni nanoparticles APP 194

Au:WO3 Nanocomposite Thin Film Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical H2 Production via Water Splitting