Functionalising nanocrystalline TiO2films: dye sensitised solar cells and optical biosensors

The fabrication of porous, nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2) films is considered first, and their application as dye sensitised photovoltaic devices is summarised. The electron transfer and transport dynamics within such devices is then discussed in more detail, focusing on electron transfer between the TiO2 and the molecular dyes, and the role of intra band trap states in the TiO2. The authors conclude by introducing a new potential application of such nanocrystalline TiO2 films, as a substrate for enzyme immobilisation in bioanalytical devices.