title: Improved performance of dye-sensitized solar cells using dual-function TiO(2) nanowire photoelectrode.
abstract: A unique, hierarchically structured, aggregated TiO(2) nanowire (A-TiO(2)-nw) is prepared by solvothermal synthesis and used as a dual-functioning photoelectrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The A-TiO(2)-nw shows improved light scattering compared to conventional TiO(2) nanoparticles (TiO(2)-np) and dramatically enhanced dye adsorption compared to conventional scattering particles (CSP). The A-TiO(2)-nw is used as a scattering layer for bilayer photoelectrodes (TiO(2)-np/A-TiO(2)-nw) in DSSCs to compare the cell performance to that of devices using state-of-the-art photoelectrode architectures (TiO(2)-np/CSP). The DSSCs fabricated using bilayers of TiO(2)-np/A-TiO(2)-nw show improved power conversion efficiency (9.1%) and current density (14.88 mA cm(-2)) compared to those using single-layer TiO(2)-np (7.6% and 11.84 mA cm(-2)) or TiO(2)-np/CSP bilayer structures (8.7% and 13.81 mA cm(-2)). The unique contribution of the A-TiO(2)-nw layers to the device performance is confirmed by studying the incident photon-to-current efficiency. The enhanced external quantum efficiencies at approximately 520 nm and 650 nm clearly reveal the dual functionality of A-TiO(2)-nw. These unique properties of A-TiO(2)-nw may be applied in other devices utilizing light-scattering n-type semiconductor.
authors.forename: Zico Alaia
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.forename: Ji Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Wisnu Tantyo
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Hadmojo
authors.forename: Su Ji
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Young Rag
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Sung-Yeong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jang