Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) show promise as a cheaper alternative to silicon-based
photovoltaics for specialized applications, provided conversion efficiency can be maximized
and production costs minimized. This study demonstrates that arrays of nanowires can be
formed by wet-chemical methods for use as three-dimensional (3D) electrodes in DSSCs,
thereby improving photoelectric conversion efficiency. Two approaches were employed to
create the arrays of ITO (indium–tin-oxide) nanowires or arrays of ITO/TiO2 core–shell
nanowires; both methods were based on electrophoretic deposition (EPD) within a
polycarbonate template. The 3D electrodes for solar cells were constructed by using a
doctor-blade for coating TiO2 layers onto the ITO or ITO/TiO2 nanowire arrays. A
photoelectric conversion efficiency as high as 4.3% was achieved in the DSSCs made from ITO
nanowires; this performance was better than that of ITO/TiO2 core–shell nanowires or pristine
TiO2 films. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed that the reaction current was significantly enhanced
when a 3D ITO-nanowire electrode was used. Better separation of charge carriers and improved
charge transport, due to the enlarged interfacial area, are thought to be the major advantages of using 3D nanowire electrodes for the optimization of DSSCs.
（Nanotechnology），doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/20/5/055601，Hong-Wen Wang，Simon P Ringer）
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