Hierarchical TiO2 photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Sauvage, F; Di Fonzo, F; Li Bassi, A; Casari, C S; Russo, V; Divitini, G; Ducati, C; Bottani, C E et al. · Nano Lett · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Hierarchical or one-dimensional architectures are among the most exciting developments in material science these recent years. We present a nanostructured TiO(2) assembly combining these two concepts and resembling a forest composed of individual, high aspect-ratio, treelike nanostructures. We propose to use these structures for the photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells, and we achieved 4.9% conversion efficiency in combination with C101 dye. We demonstrate this morphology beneficial to hamper the electron recombination and also mass transport control in the mesopores when solvent-free ionic liquid electrolyte is used.