A highly efficient method to fabricate titania electrode films using electrostatic atomization

Titania electrode films of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) were prepared by cone-jet mode electrostatic atomization spraying a titanium ethoxide precursor solution onto a silicon substrate. The effects of spraying time, substrate temperature and aging on the surface morphology of the films prepared were studied. Thin films obtained after spraying for 600s were aged at room temperature to form a porous TiO₂ network with pores in the size range of 100-500 nm. Thicker films were prepared by spraying for 3000s, but these cracked on drying although it can be concluded that films prepared using a higher substrate temperature were denser. By this method, TiO₂ films were also prepared on an ITO conductive glass substrate using titania suspension with different particle size distribution. The result implies the potential of an industrial production of DSSC by electrospraying technique.