CHAPTER 5
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
Materials and Chemicals
• Tin Oxide coated glass electrodes, 3 mm thick, 14 Ω/□, Pilkington
• Anatase TiO2 nanoparticle colloid, Ti-Nanoxide D/SP, Solaronix Particle size 15-20nm with >100nm diffusing particles.
• Black Dye N749, Ruthenizer 620-1H3TBA, Solaronix
• Electrolyte: Iodolyte Z-150, Solaronix
• Acetonitrile anhydrous 99.8%, Sigma-Aldrich
• tert-Butanol - anhydrous ≥99.5%, Sigma-Aldrich
• Deoxycholic acid ≥99%, Sigma-Aldrich
• Titanium (IV) chloride - puriss. ≥99.0%, Sigma-Aldrich
• Platinum precursor solution: Platisol T, Solaronix
• Platinum precursor paste: Platisol T/SP, Solaronix
• Lithium iodide, 99.9% trace metals basis, Sigma Aldrich
• 1,2-Dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium Iodide, TCI …show more content…
Moreover, at higher temperature (even at room temperature) it oxidizes into TiO2.
First, a 2M concentrated stock solution was made. Ice cold deionized (DI) water is taken. TiCl4 vapor is extremely dangerous for inhalation. In an inert gas environment TiCl4 was added slowly to water in an ice bath while being stirred with a magnetic stirrer. A clear transparent solution indicates a good workable solution. The solution was stored in a freezer. Second, the stock solution was diluted by adding it to cold DI water. Fresh diluted solution was made before each TiCl4 treatment.
TiCl4 Treatment
As the titania electrode has cooled down, polyimide Kapton tape with silicone adhesive was put by the open edges of the electrode to protect the SnO2 coating on glass. The substrate was kept immersed in TiCl4 solution at 70°C for 30 min in a closed container. The electrode was rinsed with DI water and ethanol. It was then placed back to the heater, dried for 15 min at 80°C and annealed at 500°C for 10min with 5°C/min rise rate. When cooled to 100°C, the electrode was immersed in dye solution.
Dye
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
Materials and Chemicals
• Tin Oxide coated glass electrodes, 3 mm thick, 14 Ω/□, Pilkington
• Anatase TiO2 nanoparticle colloid, Ti-Nanoxide D/SP, Solaronix Particle size 15-20nm with >100nm diffusing particles.
• Black Dye N749, Ruthenizer 620-1H3TBA, Solaronix
• Electrolyte: Iodolyte Z-150, Solaronix
• Acetonitrile anhydrous 99.8%, Sigma-Aldrich
• tert-Butanol - anhydrous ≥99.5%, Sigma-Aldrich
• Deoxycholic acid ≥99%, Sigma-Aldrich
• Titanium (IV) chloride - puriss. ≥99.0%, Sigma-Aldrich
• Platinum precursor solution: Platisol T, Solaronix
• Platinum precursor paste: Platisol T/SP, Solaronix
• Lithium iodide, 99.9% trace metals basis, Sigma Aldrich
• 1,2-Dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium Iodide, TCI …show more content…
Moreover, at higher temperature (even at room temperature) it oxidizes into TiO2.
First, a 2M concentrated stock solution was made. Ice cold deionized (DI) water is taken. TiCl4 vapor is extremely dangerous for inhalation. In an inert gas environment TiCl4 was added slowly to water in an ice bath while being stirred with a magnetic stirrer. A clear transparent solution indicates a good workable solution. The solution was stored in a freezer. Second, the stock solution was diluted by adding it to cold DI water. Fresh diluted solution was made before each TiCl4 treatment.
TiCl4 Treatment
As the titania electrode has cooled down, polyimide Kapton tape with silicone adhesive was put by the open edges of the electrode to protect the SnO2 coating on glass. The substrate was kept immersed in TiCl4 solution at 70°C for 30 min in a closed container. The electrode was rinsed with DI water and ethanol. It was then placed back to the heater, dried for 15 min at 80°C and annealed at 500°C for 10min with 5°C/min rise rate. When cooled to 100°C, the electrode was immersed in dye solution.
Dye