• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2008

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1341-1345
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• 2004

We developed a novel synthesis strategy of titania nanowire arrays by employing simple hydrothermal reaction and ion-exchange reaction techniques. Hydrothermal reactions of metallic titanium powder with $H_2O_2$ in a 10 M NaOH solution produced a new sodium titanate compound, $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}{\cdot}xH_2O$ (x~4.2), as arrays of nanowires of lengths up to 1 mm. Acid-treatment followed by calcination of this material produced arrays of highly crystalline anatase nanowires as evidenced by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy studies. In both cases of sodium titanate and anatase, the nanowires have exceptionally large aspect ratios of 10,000 or higher, and they form arrays over a large area of $1.5 {\times} 3 cm^2$. Observations on the reaction products with varied conditions indicate that the array formation requires simultaneously controlled formation and crystal growth rates of the $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}{\cdot}xH_2O$ phase.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.449-455
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• 2010

The hybrid structured photo-electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells was fabricated based on the composites of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles and nanowires. Three samples with different hybrid structures were prepared with 17 vol%, 43 vol%, and 100 vol% nanowires. The energy conversion efficiency was enhanced from 5.54% for pure nanoparticle cells to 6.01% for the hybrid structure with 17 vol% nanowires. For the hybrid structured layers with high nanowires concentration (43 vol% and 100 vol%), the efficiency decreased with the nanowire concentration, because of the decrease of specific surface area, and of thus decreased current density. The random orientations of $TiO_2$ nanowires can be preserved by the doctor blade process, resulted in the enhanced efficiency. The hybrid structured $TiO_2$ layer can possess the advantages of the high surface area of nanoparticles and the rapid electron transport rate and the light scattering effect of nanowires.