Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells composed of mesoporous titanium dioxide

Abstract

In this study, mesoporous TiO₂ using the template method with a short-range ordered-framework structure was successfully used as an electrode material in dye-sensitized solar cells. The best efficiency, 10.0%, was achieved under illumination by simulated AM 1.5 solar light (100 mW cm⁻²). This high light-to-electricity energy conversion efficiency is attributed to the novel physicochemical properties of mesoporous TiO₂, which include high surface area, uniform nanochannels, and a homogeneous nanocrystalline structure. The high surface area adsorbs large quantities of the sensitized dye, resulting in the generation of a higher photocurrent density. A significant influence of the mesopore structure on photovoltaic performance was also observed based on these novel properties.