Partially nanowire-structured TiO2 electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Abstract Partially nanowire-structured TiO2 was prepared by a hydrothermal processing followed by calcination in air. The hydrogen titanate powder as-synthesized was calcined at 300 °C for 4 h to obtain the partially nanowire-structured TiO2. A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) with a film thickness of 5.6 μm, fabricated using the partially nanowire-structured TiO2 showed better performance than using a fully nanowire-structured TiO2 or a conventional equi-axed TiO2 nanopowder. The short-circuit current density (JSC), the open-circuit voltage (VOC), the fill factor (FF) and the overall efficiency (η) are 11.9 mA/cm2, 0.754 V, 0.673 and 6.01 %, respectively. The effects of one-dimensional nanostructure and electron expressway concept are discussed.