title: Mesoporous submicrometer TiO(2) hollow spheres as scatterers in dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Hierarchical submicrometer TiO2 hollow spheres with outer diameter of 300-700 nm and shell thickness of 200 nm are synthesized by liquid phase deposition of TiO2 over carbon microspheres as sacrificial templates. The final TiO2 hollow spheres are applied as a scattering layer on top of a transparent nanocrystalline TiO2 film, serving as the photoanode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC). In addition to efficient light scattering, the mesoporous structure of TiO2 hollow spheres provides a high surface area, 74 m(2)/g, which allows for higher dye loading. This dual functioning suggests that TiO2 hollow spheres may be good replacements for conventional TiO2 spheres as scatterers in DSCs. A high efficiency of 8.3% is achieved with TiO2 hollow spheres, compared with 6.0% for the electrode with 400 nm spherical TiO2 scatterers, at identical conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Tarbiat Modarres University , Gisha Bridge, Tehran 1411717751, Iran.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dadgostar
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tajabadi
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taghavinia
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004566:Electrodes; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D012993:Solar Energy; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium