Physical properties of the CNT:TiO^sub 2^ thin films prepared by sol-gel dip coating

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 86; no. 4; p. 1037
• Main Authors: Morales, Erik R, Mathews, NR, Reyes-Coronado, David, Magaña, Carlos R, Acosta, Dwight R, Alonso-Nunez, G, Martinez, Omar S, Mathew, Xavier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Pergamon Press Inc 01-04-2012
• Subjects: Band gap; Crystal lattices; Solar energy; Surface roughness; Thin films
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257

Uniform and highly adherent thin films of ... were synthesized by sol-gel dip coating method. Both ... and ... films showed very identical structural characteristics and no significant changes in the lattice values were observed. The crystalline size decreased from 20 nm for ... film to 17 nm for the 4%... film. The film surface was very smooth and compact, as indicated by the roughness data obtained from AFM measurements; the root mean square (rms) average of the roughness was as low as 3 nm. The HRTEM showed that the CNTs are embedded in the matrix of ... indicating the formation of a composite. In Raman spectra the characteristic vibrations of the ... are identified, the increase in the FWHM of main anatase peak (144 cm...) in the case of the 4%... film is interpreted as due to the incorporation of CNTs in the film. At the wavelength of 600 nm the refractive index of pure ... was 2.07 and the 4%... showed a value of 2.29. The photoresponse curves showed typical features of charge trapping centers in the band gap of the films. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)