Novel three-dimensional TiO2 nanomesh synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal method for application in dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

A novel 3D TiO₂ nanomesh with a high specific surface area was successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method using NaOH and P25 as the reactive agents. The as-prepared and calcined 3D TiO₂ nanomesh samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The performance of DSSCs employing TiO₂ as the photoelectrode shows an extreme dependence on the microstructure of the photoanode. Specifically, the double-layer photoanode with a hybrid top-layer composed of TiO₂ nanomesh and Degussa P25 gives a high power conversion efficiency of 8.82% and a short circuit photocurrent density of 17.86 mA cm⁻², indicating a 47% increase in the conversion efficiency compared to the DSSC with a P25 photoanode (5.98%, 13.33 mA cm⁻²).