Nano Express
Improvement in the photoelectrochemical responses of PCBM/TiO2 electrode by electron irradiation
1 Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-701, South Korea
2 Nanomaterials Research Group, Physics Division, PINSTECH, Islamabad, 45650, Pakistan
3 Particla Co. Ltd., Daejeon, 306-220, South Korea
Nanoscale Research Letters 2012, 7:142 doi:10.1186/1556-276X-7-142
Published: 20 February 2012Abstract
The photoelectrochemical (PEC) responses of electron-irradiated [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)/TiO2 electrodes were evaluated in a PEC cell. By coating PCBM on TiO2 nanoparticle film, the light absorption of PCBM/TiO2 electrode has expanded to the visible light region and improved the PEC responses compared to bare TiO2 electrode. The PEC responses were further improved by irradiating an electron beam on PCBM/TiO2 electrodes. Compared to non-irradiated PCBM/TiO2 electrodes, electron irradiation increased the photocurrent density and the open-circuit potential of PEC cells by approximately 90% and approximately 36%, respectively at an optimum electron irradiation condition. The PEC responses are carefully evaluated correlating with the optical and electronic properties of electron-irradiated PCBM/TiO2 electrodes.
