Issue 3, 2015

Hierarchical DSSC structures based on “single walled” TiO2 nanotube arrays reach a back-side illumination solar light conversion efficiency of 8%

Abstract

In the present work we introduce a path to the controlled construction of DSSCs based on hierarchically structured single walled, self-organized TiO2 layers. In a first step we describe a simple approach to selectively remove the inner detrimental shell of anodic TiO2 nanotubes (NTs). This then allows controlled well-defined layer-by-layer decoration of these TiO2-NT walls with TiO2 nanoparticles (in contrast to conventional TiO2 nanotubes). We show that such defined multiple layered decoration can be optimized to build dye sensitized solar cells that (under back-side illumination conditions) can yield solar light conversion efficiencies to the extent of 8%. The beneficial effects observed can be ascribed to a combination of three factors: (1) improved electronic properties of the “single walled” tubes themselves, (2) a further improvement of the electronic properties by the defined TiCl4 treatment, and (3) a higher specific dye loading that becomes possible for the layer-by-layer decorated single walled tubes.

Graphical abstract: Hierarchical DSSC structures based on “single walled” TiO2 nanotube arrays reach a back-side illumination solar light conversion efficiency of 8%

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
26 Nov 2014
Accepted
02 Jan 2015
First published
02 Jan 2015

Energy Environ. Sci., 2015,8, 849-854

Hierarchical DSSC structures based on “single walled” TiO2 nanotube arrays reach a back-side illumination solar light conversion efficiency of 8%

S. So, I. Hwang and P. Schmuki, Energy Environ. Sci., 2015, 8, 849 DOI: 10.1039/C4EE03729D

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