Effect of microwave sintering on the crystal domain and electrical properties of TiO 2 nanoparticles

Abstract

We report the effect of microwaves sintering on the crystal domain and electrical properties of TiO₂ nanoparticles. Commercially available TiO₂ nanoparticles of 25 nm size were coated on ITO (indium tin oxide) substrates, which were then sintered at 450 °C employing microwave and conventional sintering approaches. The structural properties of the sintered coatings were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), whereas the charge transfer properties were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Structural analysis reveals that the microwave sintering of TiO₂-coated substrates results in the formation of more ordered crystal structure as compared to the conventionally sintered samples. Nyquist plots demonstrate the improved charge transfer characteristics of TiO₂ nanoparticles in microwave-sintered layers. Also, the application of the microwave-sintered TiO₂-coated ITO substrates as photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) confirms superior electrical properties compared to conventionally sintered samples.

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