TY - JOUR T1 - Annealing effects on self-assembled TiO2 nanotubes and their behavior as photoelectrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells JF - Chemical Engineering Journal Y1 - 2013 A1 - Vaenas, N. A1 - Bidikoudi, M. A1 - Stergiopoulos, T. A1 - V. Likodimos A1 - A. G. Kontos A1 - P. Falaras AB - Self-assembled highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays were grown on Ti foils in NH4F ethylene glycol electrolyte under mild anodic oxidation conditions. The effect of annealing post-treatment on their structural properties was systematically investigated with respect to their electrical characteristics and photoelectrochemical performance in back-side illuminated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). A variety of parameters was controlled and optimized including the annealing temperature, the heating rate and duration of the thermal treatment. The obtained results confirmed a correlation between the crystalline/structural properties of the TiO2 nanotubes and their electrical characteristics, thus revealing the close interplay of crystal size, grain boundaries and crystallite interconnectivity with the electron dynamics (transport/ recombination) governing the DSC operation and efficiency. The high importance of a barrier layer at the interface between the nanotubes and the Ti foil was also highlighted. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. VL - 224 UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84882883553&doi=10.1016%2fj.cej.2013.02.017&partnerID=40&md5=125439f32e8e9caa05dff92e501d591d N1 - cited By 14 ER -