Vertically aligned anatase TiO2 nanowire bundle arrays: Use as Pt support for counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

Vertically aligned anatase TiO2 nanowire bundle arrays are prepared via a solvothermal and subsequent calcination process. Pt nanoparticles with a size of 4-6 nm are uniformly immobilized on TiO2 nanowire bundle array to obtain Pt/TiO2 nanowire bundle array counter electrode, which can remarkably enhance catalytically active sites and provide facile transport of ions and electrons. The as-prepared materials are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) fabricated with Pt/TiO2 nanowire bundle array counter electrode shows significantly higher photovoltaic performance than the conventional Pt counter electrode. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.