title: Layer-by-layer formation of block-copolymer-derived TiO(2) for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Morphology control on the 10 nm length scale in mesoporous TiO(2)  films is crucial for the manufacture of high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells. While the combination of block-copolymer self-assembly with sol-gel chemistry yields good results for very thin films, the shrinkage during the film manufacture typically prevents the build-up of sufficiently thick layers to enable optimum solar cell operation. Here, a study on the temporal evolution of block-copolymer-directed mesoporous TiO(2)  films during annealing and calcination is presented. The in-situ investigation of the shrinkage process enables the establishment of a simple and fast protocol for the fabrication of thicker films. When used as photoanodes in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells, the mesoporous networks exhibit significantly enhanced transport and collection rates compared to the state-of-the-art nanoparticle-based devices. As a consequence of the increased film thickness, power conversion efficiencies above 4% are reached.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guldin
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Docampo
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefik
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kamita
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wiesner
authors.forename: Henry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Snaith
authors.forename: Ullrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Steiner