Under a special program supported by the University of São Paulo (USP) for the development
of strategic fields of research, interdisciplinar discussion on the development of photovoltaics and energy
technology has been established. Several aspects concerned to solar energy and PV technology were discussed
in regular meetings along a year by professionals of different domains. As a result of the program,
a collaborative work on the deposition of TiO2 films employed in photoelectrochemical solar cells has been
established between the Laboratory of Inorganic Photochemistry and Energy Conversion at the IQ-USP and
other research groups.Preparation of TiO2 emulsions from distinct methods were performed and compared. Spin-coating and
painting techniques have been employed for the deposition of TiO2 films over TCO substrates. Both techniques
resulted in transparent homogeneous TiO2 films which were successfully used as dye-sensitized
photoanodes in solar cells. The results show that thin-film properties, such as thickness and transparency,
can be controlled through the deposition technique and that photoelectrochemical measurements carried
out by our group have been performed under appropriate film deposition conditions.This experience shows also that different institutions, with distinct purposes, can interact and work together
to prepare qualified professionals for many areas of modern science and technology.
