Mixed photoelectrode based on spherical TiO2nanorod aggregates for dye-sensitized solar cells with high short-circuit photocurrent density

Abstract

Mixed photoelectrode was successfully prepared by dispersing spherical TiO₂ nanorod aggregates with high surface area into nanocrystallites for dye-sensitized solar cells. This type of mixed photoelectrode demonstrated a considerably higher short-circuit photocurrent density value due to the multifunctions of the spherical TiO₂ nanorod aggregates, including high surface area for large dye loading, sub-micrometre size for superior light-scattering ability and one-dimensional building units for fast electron transport. After maximizing the combined dye loading, light-scattering efficiency, and electron transport property in the mixed photoelectrode by adjusting the concentrations of the spherical TiO₂ nanorod aggregates, a highest J_sc of 20.36 mA cm⁻² and a highest energy conversion efficiency of 6.96% were obtained when the concentration of the spherical TiO₂ nanorod aggregates was 40 wt%.