Rough conical-shaped TiO2-nanotube arrays for flexible backilluminated dye-sensitized solar cells

Conical-shaped anodic TiO(2)-nanotube (TiNT) arrays with length of a few tens of micrometer and rough tube walls were fabricated for use in flexible backilluminated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) which exhibited conversion efficiency of 4.3% under AM1.5 back side illumination. As compared to TiO(2) nanoparticles/ Ti-based DSSC, TiNT/Ti-based DSSC showed enhanced light-harvesting efficiency, rapid electron-transport rate, prolonged electron lifetime, and reduced dark current, leading to an increase in efficiency by similar to 30%. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.