Fabrication of TiO2 nanotubes by using electrodeposited ZnO nanorod template and their application to hybrid solar cells

Vertically aligned TiO2 nanotubes have been fabricated on the indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) by a simple and versatile technique using the lectrochemically deposited ZnO nanorods, oriented along the c-axis, as a template in the spin-on based sol–gel reaction of a Ti precursor. The iameter, length, and shape of TiO2 nanotubes were controlled by changing the initial ZnO nanorod template and the spin conditions during sol–gel rocess of a Ti precursor. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used o confirm the successful formation of TiO2 nanotubes and characterize their structure and morphology. Furthermore, as an application of the TiO2 anotubes, hybrid solar cells based on TiO2 and poly[2-methoxy,5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) were successfully abricated. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.