Three dimensional-TiO2 nanotube array photoanode architectures assembled on a thin hollow nanofibrous backbone and their performance in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Facile synthesis of TiO2 nanotube branched (length similar to 0.5 mu m) thin hollownanofibers is reported. The hierarchical three dimensional photoanodes (H-TiO2-NFs) (only similar to 1 mu m thick) demonstrate their excellent candidature as photoanodes in QD-sensitized solar cells, exhibiting similar to 3-fold higher energy conversion efficiency (eta = 2.8%, J(sc) = 8.8 mA cm(-2)) than that of the directly grown nanotube arrays on a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) substrate (eta = 0.9%, J(sc) = 2.5 mA cm(-2)).