A facile route to TiO2 nanotube arrays for dye-sensitized solar cells

Nanotube arrays of TiO2 were synthesized by using a template of ZnO nanorod arrays on fluorine-doped SnO2 (FTO) transparent conducting oxide glass substrate by liquid phase deposition (LPD) method. Dye (N719) sensitized solar cells (DSCs) comprising the TiO2 nanotube arrays were fabricated under the various conditions of the calcined temperature in the range of 300-500 C. The sintering temperature drastically affected the film crystallinity. Cell performances of the DSCs based on the TiO2 nanotube arrays with different cryatalinities were characterized and compared. It was found that the content of crystalline phase of anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays increased on raising the calcination temperature Lip to 500 C and resulting in enhancement of the cell performance of DSCs in terms of the short-circuit photocurrent density. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.