Dye-Sensitized TiO₂ Nanotube Solar Cells with Markedly Enhanced Performance via Rational Surface Engineering

Abstract

Highly ordered anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays fabricated by electrochemical anodization were sensitized with ruthenium dye N-719 to yield dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells. Rational surface treatments on photoanode TiO2 nanotubes markedly improved the device performance. With TiCl4 treatment, in conjunction with oxygen plasma exposure under optimized conditions, dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells produced using 14-μm-thick TiO2 nanotube arrays in backside illumination mode subjected to simulated AM 1.5 G irradiation of 100 mW/cm2 exhibited a pronounced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.37%.