title: Direct and seamless coupling of TiO2 nanotube photonic crystal to dye-sensitized solar cell: a single-step approach.
abstract: A TiO(2)  nanotube layer with a periodic structure is used as a photonic crystal to greatly enhance light harvesting in TiO(2)  nanotube-based dye-sensitized solar cells. Such a tube-on-tube structure fabricated by a single-step approach facilitates good physical contact, easy electrolyte infiltration, and efficient charge transport. An increase of over 50% in power conversion efficiency is obtained in comparison to reference cells without a photonic crystal layer (under similar total thickness and dye loading).
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Cho Tung
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Keyu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tianhua
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jensen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wing Yim
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004573:Electrolytes; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D012993:Solar Energy; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D004573:Electrolytes; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium