Tunable synthesis of mesoporous titania with different morphologies for dye-sensitized solar cells

Different TiO2 mesoporous structures, including core-shell spheres (CCSs) and micro-tubes (MTs), are synthesized through adjusting the pH of the solution using TiOSO4 as titanium source in a hydrothermal route. TiO2 CSSs with an average diameter of 1.3-3.5 lm exhibit excellent light scattering property and high specific surface area (177.63 m(2) g(-1)). TiO2 MTs show ultrahigh specific surface area of 276.03 m(2) g(-1). Dye-sensitized solar cell is fabricated using TiO2 CSSs as the light scattering layer and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) layer as the bottom layer. The efficiency of Cell-NPs + CSSs is up to 9.24% due to the good light scattering effect and excellent dye loading capacity. Furthermore, TiO2 MTs are introduced to form the NPs/ MTs bottom layer. The Cell-NPs/MTs + CSSs achieves an outstanding efficiency of 9.60% due to the further optimized electron transport path. (c) 2021 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Different TiO2 mesoporous structures, including core-shell spheres (CCSs) and micro-tubes (MTs), were successfully synthesized through adjusting the pH of the solution. The TiO2 CSSs and TiO2 MTs showed excellent specific surface area and light scattering properties. Dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated using these structures achieved efficiencies of 9.24% and 9.60%, respectively.