Pore Filling of Nanostructured Electrodes in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells by Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition

The dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) operation depends on a liquid electrolyte. To achieve better performance, the liquid should be replaced with a solid or gel electrolyte, e.g., polymers. Here, we demonstrate initiated chemical vapor deposition as an effective liquid-free means for in situ polymerization and pore filling. We achieve complete pore filling of 12 mu m thick titania resulting in enhanced cell performance that is attributed to reduced charge recombination at the electrolyte electrode interface.