High performance flexible dye-sensitized solar cells base on multiple functional optimizations

A DSSCs photoanode structure of hierarchical coronary TiO2 nanorod arrays (HCTNAs) is constructed through a mild and controllable hydrothermal strategy. The two-step hydrothermal has been adopt to grow HCTNAs on the flexible ITO/PET conductive substrate directly. Interestingly, this kind of HCTNAs is constituted by unique top nano-bouquet and bottom nano-flower shrubs which modified nanorods. The unique structure is propitious to adsorb more dye molecules and scatter more photons on the basis of fast electron transport capacity. HCTNAs photoanodes are assembled into DSSCs, and get a gratifying photoelectric conversion efficiency. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the HCTNAs DSSCs is 62% increase compare to those of constructed by first step bare TiO2 nanorod arrays in the conversion efficiency. It is worth mentioning that our fabrication technology can convert bare TiO2 nanorod (1D) to nano-flower which with coronary (3D) TiO2 directly which on the flexible substrate. This is a significant technological breakthrough for the flexible photoanode substrate of dye-sensitized solar cells.