Ru-doped TiO2 nanotubes: Improved performance in dye-sensitized solar cells

In the present work we use a series of TiRu alloys, with minor amounts of Ru (0.01, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.2 at%) to grow anodic self-organized Ru-doped TiO2 nanotube layers. When used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the nanotube layers with an optimum amount of Ru (0.02 at% Ru in the alloy) show a considerable increase in solar cell efficiency (eta = 5.2%) under AM1.5 (100 mW/cm2) conditions compared with non-doped TiO2 nanotubes ( eta= 4.3%).