Facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of nanorice-like TiO2 for an efficient dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)

Abstract

Highly crystalline TiO2 powder consisting of morphologically rice-like nanoparticles is synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process using a premixture of titanium isopropoxide, ethanol and aqueous ammonia. An efficient mechanism decoupling hydrolysis and condensation promotes the formation of a rice-like morphology. As the average particle size and BET properties of nanorice-like TiO2 were found to be quite similar to a commercially available TiO2 (Degussa P25), their photoelectric properties were compared as a DSSC electrode. Under 1 sun irradiation the photovoltaic efficiency of nanorice-like TiO2 was measured to be c. 20% higher in contrast to the mediocre efficiency (~5.45%) of P25. We suggest that together with a generally exploited reference, such nanorice-like TiO2 could also be adopted as a model material for various applications.