Size-dependent photovoltaic property in hollow hemisphere array based dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

For a working electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), an anatase TiO2 electrode with a hollow hemisphere structure (with diameters of 0.4, 1.5, and 5.0 mu m) was fabricated using colloidal templating and RF-sputtering techniques. The experimental results of a short-circuit current density of 1.96 mA/cm(2), an open-circuit voltage of 0.73 V, and a power conversion efficiency (AM 1.5) of 0.67% were obtained with a shell thickness of 300 nm, a hemisphere diameter of 0.4 mu m, and a 100 nm thick blocking layer. The microstructural features, i.e. hemisphere diameter and shell thickness, played an important role in promoting the charge-collection ability.