Challenges for the use of non-siliceous mesoporous thin films to improve device performances

Norihiro Suzuki

ICYS-Sengen Researcher

Non-siliceous mesoporous thin films, which are easily synthesizable by the template-assisted sol-gel method, are interesting materials because physical properties inherent in the framework materials as well as porosity-induced properties can be used simultaneously. Because mesoporous thin films have large surface area, as for the surface (interface) related phenomena, mesoporous thin films have a potential to be superior to their bulks.

In this presentation, firstly, I will introduce mesoporous TiO₂ thin films for photoanodes of DSCs. Because of their high surface area, many dyes are able to be attached to the electrodes, which is beneficial to create a photocurrent.

Secondly, I will discuss on the enhancement of the Curie temperature (T_c) of ferroelectric material (BaTiO₃). It is well known that strains induced at BaTiO₃ enhance the thermal stability of ferroelectric phase, leading the enhancement of the T_c. I’d like to mention that such strains can be introduced by utilizing mesopores.