Studies of Mass Transport in Semiconducting Thin Film Electrodes

Applications of novel thin film electrodes are enabling the development of new commercial products ranging from in vivo biosensors, solar cells, and lithium-ion energy storage.  A critical consideration that enables informed engineering of working devices is mass transport of electro-active species (EAS) and electrolytes within porous thin film electrodes.  Initially we focus on the fabrication and characterization of transport within thin film electrodes fabricated from titanium dioxide, hydrogen titantate nanotubes, and zinc oxide via a sol-gel method. Characterization data for films deposited on indium tin oxide coated glass slides by doctor blade techniques are also discussed and include bright field microscopy, powder x-ray diffraction and, mass transport properties as investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Additionally we will discuss the creation and characterization of graphene nanosheets via the reduction of graphite oxide.