Rapid one-step method to synthesize TiO ₂ nanoparticle clusters for dye sensitized solar cells

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have received much attention as a promising low cost alternative to bulk heterojunction solar cells. In order to improve DSSC efficiencies, we explore different photoanode synthesis methods. Here we present a rapid method for producing DSSC using TiO ₂ films prepared by a dielectric barrier discharge jet (DBD jet) method with elevated substrate temperatures. This facile process has several advantages over other methods such as (1) eliminating additional coating and annealing steps, (2) high speed electron mobility via hierarchical pore clusters, and (3) controlled TiO ₂ bandgap by N doping. This method exhibits ∼5 times higher photo-conversion efficiency than commercial P25 nanoparticles. Depending on reaction conditions, the resulting nanostructured materials have various sizes and shapes, with those deposited at the highest substrate temperatures displaying hierarchical walnut-shaped morphology.