Interfacial Engineering in Functional Materials for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

10 Carbon Nanotubes‐Based Nanocomposite as Photoanode

Giovana R. Cagnani¹, Nirav Joshi¹, and Flavio M. Shimizu²

¹ São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Department of Physics, São Paulo, Brazil

² Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

10.1 Introduction

Over the past few decades, energy is the backbone of technology and economic development. In addition to man, machine, and money, energy is now fourth factor of production. Without energy, no machine will run, electricity is needed for everything. Hence, our energy requirements have increased dramatically in the years following the industrial revolution. Readily accessible fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and oils, are the major energy sources used to meet our current need. However, these sources are nonrenewable and have led to serious environmental issues, global warming, and air pollution, and their increasing consumption rate has accelerated fossil fuel depletion; the search for alternative energy source has become vital.

Among all the renewable energy sources, solar energy is the ultimate solution to growing energy needs due to its abundance and cleanliness for power generation and also promising alternative to fossil fuels. Importantly, the global energy demand can be met by simply covering 0.1% of earth's crust with solar cell having efficiency of 10% by using photovoltaics ...