Formation of Ordered Macro Porous TiO₂ Layer with Polystyrene Nano-Beads over FTO Glass DSSCs

Abstract

The macro porous TiO₂ applied as the electrode materials were prepared by a matrix-assisted method in this study. The matrix for the preparation of the macro porous materials was used polystyrene nano spheres. The precursor for a preparation of TiO₂ was used TiCl₄. The morphology of TiO₂ synthesized by a matrix-assisted method was the macro-porous material of the ordered type. In this study, the ordered type macro-porous TiO₂ layer as the solid oxide electrode was formed over FTO glass for high efficient DSSCs. TiO₂ synthesized in this study was applied as the electrode for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The cell efficiency of DSSCs with the macro-porous TiO₂ was investigated and the cell efficiency was enhanced with increasing density of macro pores. These results were concluded, because the shadow effect of the macro porous materials under photo radiation decreased.

Keywords:

• Macro-porous TiO₂
• dye-sensitized solar cells
• and polystyrene colloidal solution

Funding

This work was supported by the 2012 Yeungnam University Research Grant and the Human Resources Development Program of Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant (No 20104010100580) funded by the Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy.