Co-Sedimentation of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Polymer Beads to Fabricate Macroporous TiO2 Photoelectrodes

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on highly porous nanocrystalline TiO2 films have drawn considerable attention due to their high conversion efficiency and low production cost. TiO2 nanocrystalline electrodes have been investigated extensively as a key material. In this study, we discuss dye-sensitized solar cells based on macroporous TiO2 films using a highly-dispersed aqueous solution of TiO2 nanoparticles and polymeric particles. After drying this solution on the conducting glass substrate, the sacrificial polymer particles were removed selectively by thermal sintering at high temperatures over 400 degrees C or chemical treatment at the low temperature of 150 degrees C. This method provides the flexible control of TiO2 fractions or pore size or fabrication temperature. Also highly-dispersed TiO2 particles with a high crystallinity would provide a promising solution on low-temperature process for flexible DSSCs.