Method of synthesizing anatase TiO
A method of synthesizing anatase TiO 2 nanosheets, the method comprising the steps of: (a) mixing a titanium complex with an ethanolamine derivative; (b) adding water to form a mixture; and (c) heating the mixture at a temperature ranging from about 150° C. to about 200° C. to obtain anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having O-terminated {100} facets.
1. A method of synthesizing anatase TiO 2 nanosheets, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) mixing a titanium complex with an ethanolamine derivative;
(b) adding sufficient water to completely hydrolyze the titanium complex to form a mixture, the mixture comprising Ti(OH) 4 ; and
(c) heating the mixture at only one temperature ranging from about 150° C. to about 200° C. to obtain anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having O-terminated {100} facets.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
(d) heating the anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having O-terminated {100} facets at a temperature ranging from about 400° C. to about 600° C. to obtain anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having activated {100} facets.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after step (c), washing with ethanol, centrifuging and drying the anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having O-terminated {100} facets at a temperature ranging from room temperature to about 200° C.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the titanium complex is a titanium (IV) complex.
5. A method of fabricating a dye-sensitized solar cell, the method comprising:
(a) mixing a titanium complex with an ethanolamine derivative;
(b) adding sufficient water to completely hydrolyze the titanium complex to form a mixture, the mixture comprising Ti(OH) 4 ;
(c) heating the mixture at only one temperature ranging from about 150° C. to about 200° C. to obtain anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having O-terminated {100} facets;
(d) heating the anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having O-terminated {100} facets at a temperature ranging from about 400° C. to about 600° C. to obtain anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having activated {100} facets; and
(e) soaking the anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having activated {100} facets in a N719 industry standard dye solution to obtain anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having O-(dye)-terminated {100} facets.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, immediately after step (c) and before step (d), washing with ethanol, centrifuging and drying the anatase TiO 2 nanosheets having O-terminated {100} facets at a temperature ranging from room temperature to about 200° C.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the titanium complex is a titanium (IV) complex.