Mesoporous SnO2 agglomerates with hierarchical structures as an efficient dual-functional material for dye-sensitized solar cells

Mesoporous SnO2 agglomerates with hierarchical structures and a high surface area were fabricated through a molten salt method. The SnO2 demonstrated high photoelectric conversion efficiencies of 3.05% and 6.23% (with TiCl4 treatment) in dye-sensitized solar cells, which are attributed to its dual functionality of providing high dye-loading and efficient light scattering.