Dye-Sensitized TiO2 Nanotube Solar Cells with Markedly Enhanced Performance via Rational Surface Engineering

Highly ordered anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays fabricated by electrochemical anodization were sensitized with ruthenium dye N-719 to yield dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar Cells. Rational surface treatments TiO2 photoanode TiO2 nanotubes markedly improved the device performance. With TiCl4 treatment, in conjunction with oxygen plasma exposure under optimized conditions, dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells produced using 14-mu m-thick TiO2 nanotube arrays in backside illumination nanotube subjected to simulated AM 1.5 G irradiation of 100 mW/cm(2) exhibited it pronounced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.37%.