Highly ordered TiN nanotube arrays as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

TiN nanotube arrays, prepared by the anodization of metallic Ti foil substrate and subsequent simple nitridation in an ammonia atmosphere, were investigated as low-cost counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells for the first time. It is found that the highly ordered TiN nanotube arrays on the metallic Ti foil substrate show an excellent performance, comparable with typical Pt counter electrodes.