Hydrothermal Synthesis of One-Dimensional, Rutile TiO2 Nanograss Arrays for Photoelectrochemical Solar Cell

Solar cell represents one of the most promising way for harnessing solar energy and converting it into electricity. In the present work single step, cost-effective hydrothermal technique was successfully employed to grow an exotic, one-dimensional (1D) TiO2 nanograss arrays (TNGAs) on fluoride doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate. The synthesized TiO2 thin film is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The FE-SEM image exhibit uniform formation of exotic nanograss like structures. The blades are emanated from a nucleation center exhibiting diameter of similar to 50 nm. Photoelectrochemical performance of the deposited sample has been tested. Use of 1D TiO2 nanostructured electrode works as the stable and efficient conductor of photogenerated charge carriers. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.