Skip to main content
Disciplines
Automotive Business IT + Informatics Construction + Real Estate Electrical Engineering + Electronics Energy + Sustainability Insurance + Risk Finance + Banking Management + Leadership Marketing + Sales Mechanical Engineering + Materials
DE
EN
Books
Journals
Events
Topic Page
Marketing
Log in
Learn more about individual access
Request company access
13th International Engine Congress 2026 | 24 + 25 February 2026

Meeting Place for the Powertrain and Sustainable Fuels Community

Take part as a speaker in the 13th International Engine Congress 2026, the Meeting Place for the Powertrain, and Sustainable Fuels Community for the exchange of experience. Submit a subject proposal online about our main subject areas: Passenger car engine technology, Commercial vehicle engine technology and Sustainable Fuels & Energy!
EXTENDED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
Published in:

25-07-2016

Synthesis and improved dye-sensitized solar cells performance of TiO2 nanowires/nanospheres composites

Authors: Hui Liu, Mengyan Li, Ting Lv, Chunkui Zhu

Published in: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics | Issue 12/2016

Log in

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

TiO2 nanowires/nanospheres (TiO2 NWs/NSs) composites photoanode films were successfully synthesized via a direct two-step method, which involves preparation of TiO2 nanospheres and adding of TiO2 nanowires, and the dye-sensitized solar cells with improved performance were successfully assembled. The as-prepared samples were carefully characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, UV–visible spectrophotometer, respectively. We investigated the effect of different TiO2 NWs additions on morphology, adsorption properties of dye and photoelectric conversion properties of DSSC. The experimental results indicate that the composites structural photoanode film with suitable loading amount of TiO2 NWs present a uniform morphology. As a result, owing to its better absorption properties of N719 dye molecules and superior conductivity of photogenerated electrons, the sample with TiO2 NWs content of 10 % shows the highest photocurrent, and it exhibits an enhanced conversion efficiency of 6.37 % since it has the appropriate amount of TiO2 NWs, much higher than that of pure TiO2 NSs.
previous article Magnetic, dielectric and complex impedance properties of lanthanum and magnesium substituted strontium hexaferrite
next article A novel method for the deposition of polycrystalline Sb2S3 thin films

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
B. O’Regan, M. Gratzel, A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 353, 737–740 (1991)CrossRef
2.
A. Hagfeldt, M. Gratzel, Light-induced redox reactions in nanocrystalline systems. Chem. Rev. 95, 49–68 (1995)CrossRef
3.
4.
Y.M. Meng, Y. Lin, J.Y. Yang, Synthesis of rod-cluster ZnO nanostructures and their application to dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Surf. Sci. 268, 561–565 (2013)CrossRef
5.
T.Y. Cho, S.G. Yoon, S.S. Sekhon, M.G. Kang, C.H. Han, The effect of a sol–gel formed TiO2 blocking layer on the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 32, 3629–3633 (2011)CrossRef
6.
J.J. Fan, S.W. Liu, J.G. Yu, Enhanced photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on TiO2 nanosheets/graphene composite films. J. Mater. Chem. 22, 17027–17036 (2012)CrossRef
7.
J.G. Yu, J.J. Fan, B. Cheng, Dye-sensitized solar cells based on anatase TiO2 hollow spheres/carbon nanotube composite films. J. Power Sources 196, 7891–7898 (2011)CrossRef
8.
E.J.W. Crossland, N. Noel, V. Sivaram, T. Leijtens, J.A. Alexander-Webber, H.J. Snaith, Mesoporous TiO2 single crystals delivering enhanced mobility and optoelectronic device performance. Nature 495, 215–219 (2013)CrossRef
9.
Z. Ku, Y. Rong, M. Xu, T. Liu, H. Han, Full printable processed mesoscopic CH3NH3PbI3/TiO2 heterojunction solar cells with carbon counter electrode. Sci. Rep. 3, 2045–2322 (2013)CrossRef
10.
T. Leijtens, G.E. Eperon, S. Pathak, A. Abate, M.M. Lee, H.J. Snaith, Overcoming ultraviolet light instability of sensitized TiO2 with meso-super structured organometal trihalide perovskite solar cells. Nat. Commun. 4, 2885–2892 (2013)CrossRef
11.
X. Wei, J. Liu, Y.Z. Chua, J. Song, X.W. Liu, Fabrication of O (dye)-terminated anatase TiO2 nanosheets for dye-sensitized solar cells. Energy Environ. Sci. 4, 2054–2057 (2011)CrossRef
12.
Q.F. Zhang, G.Z. Cao, Nanostructured photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Nano Today 6, 91–109 (2011)CrossRef
13.
Q. Zhang, C.S. Dandeneau, X. Zhou, G. Cao, ZnO nanostructures for dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv. Mater. 21, 4087–4108 (2009)CrossRef
14.
Q. Yuan, Z.F. Wu, Y.K. Jin, L.S. Xu, F. Xiong, Y.S. Ma, W.X. Huang, Photocatalytic cross-coupling of methanol and formaldehyde on a rutile TiO2 (110) surface. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135, 5212–5219 (2013)CrossRef
15.
K. Park, Q. Zhang, D. Myers, G. Cao, Charge transport properties in TiO2 network with different particle sizes for dye sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interface 5, 1044–1052 (2013)CrossRef
16.
S.H. Han, S. Lee, H. Shin, H.S. Jung, A quasi-inverse opal layer based on highly crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles: anewlight-scattering layer in dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv. Energy Mater. 1, 546–550 (2011)CrossRef
17.
M.S. Wu, C.H. Tsai, T.C. Wei, Electrochemical formation of transparent nanostructured TiO2 film as an effective bifunctional layer for dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem. Commun. 47, 2871–2873 (2011)CrossRef
18.
X.P. Lin, D.M. Song, X.Q. Gu, Y.L. Zhao, Y.H. Qiang, Synthesis of hollow spherical TiO2 for dye-sensitized solar cells with enhanced performance. Appl. Surf. Sci. 263, 816–820 (2012)CrossRef
19.
Y.M. Xu, X.M. Fang, Z.G. Zhang, Formation of single-crystalline TiO2 nanomaterials with controlled phase composition and morphology and the application in dye-sensitized solar cell. Appl. Surf. Sci. 255, 8743–8749 (2009)CrossRef
20.
M. Zhu, L. Chen, H.B. Gong, M. Zi, B.Q. Cao, A novel TiO2 nanorod/nanoparticle composite architecture to improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. Ceram. Int. 40, 2337–2342 (2014)CrossRef
21.
B. Chena, H. Hua, Q. Taia, N. Zhang, F. Guo, B. Sebo, W. Liu, J. Yuan, J. Wang, X. Zhao, An inverted fabrication method towards a flexible dye sensitized solar cell based on a free-standing TiO2 nanowires membrane. Electrochim. Acta 59, 581–586 (2012)CrossRef
22.
A.M. Bakhshayesha, M.R. Mohammadia, H. Dadara, D.J. Frayb, Improved efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells aided by corn-like TiO2 nanowires as the light scattering layer. Electrochim. Acta 90, 302–308 (2013)CrossRef
23.
S.H. Wang, X.W. Zhou, X.R. Xiao, Y.Y. Fang, Y. Lin, An increase in conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells using bamboo-type TiO2 nanotube arrays. Electrochim. Acta 116, 26–30 (2014)CrossRef
24.
A. Lamberti, A. Sacco, S. Bianco, D. Manfredi, M. Armandi, M. Quaglio, E. Tresso, C.F. Pirri, An easy approach for the fabrication of TiO2 nanotube-based transparent photoanodes for dye-sensitized Solar Cells. Sol. Energy 95, 90–98 (2013)CrossRef
25.
S.M. Wang, W.W. Dong, R.H. Tao, Z.H. Deng, J.Z. Shao, L.H. Hu, J. Zhu, X.D. Fang, Optimization of single-crystal rutile TiO2 nanorod arrays based dye-sensitized solar cells and their electron transport properties. J. Power Sources 235, 193–201 (2013)CrossRef
26.
H. Liu, X.N. Dong, G.J. Li, X. Su, Z.F. Zhu, Synthesis of C, Ag co-modified TiO2 photocatalyst and its application in waste water purification. Appl. Surf. Sci. 271, 276–283 (2013)CrossRef
27.
H. Liu, T. Lv, C.K. Zhu, X. Su, Z.F. Zhu, Efficient synthesis of MoS2 nanoparticles modified TiO2 nanobelts with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity. J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. 396, 136–142 (2015)CrossRef
28.
Z.F. Zhu, C.K. Zhu, H. Liu, Y.F. Wu, G.H. Chen, T. Lv, Synthesis of monodisperse colloidal TiO2 microspheres and performance of their dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Surf. Sci. 308, 301–305 (2014)CrossRef
29.
H. Liu, X.N. Dong, T.T. Liu, X. Su, Z.F. Zhu, Silver-modified colloidal-aggregated TiO2 microstructures with enhanced visible photocatalytic activities. Mater. Lett. 115, 219–221 (2014)CrossRef
30.
Y. Gao, S.A. Elder, TEM study of TiO2 nanocrystals with different particle size and shape. Mater. Lett. 44, 228–232 (2000)CrossRef
31.
K. Huo, X. Zhang, L. Hu et al., One-step growth and field emission properties of quasialigned TiO2 nanowire/carbon nanocone core-shell nanostructure arrays on Ti substrates. Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 0131053 (2008)CrossRef
32.
H.M. Cheng, W.H. Chiu, C.H. Lee et al., Formation of branched ZnO nanowires from solvothermal method and dye-sensitized solar cells applications. J. Phys. Chem. C 112, 16359–16364 (2008)CrossRef
33.
T.V. Nguyen, H.C. Lee, O.B. Yang, The effect of pre-thermal treatment of TiO2 nano-particles on the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 90, 967–970 (2006)CrossRef
34.
R. Zhang, S. Kumar, S. Zou et al., High-density vertically aligned ZnO rods with a multistage terrace structure and their improved solar cell efficiency. Cryst. Growth Des. 8, 381–383 (2007)CrossRef
35.
C. Chen, W. Cai, M. Long et al., Synthesis of visible-light responsive graphene oxide/TiO2 composites with p/n heterojunction. ACS Nano 4, 6425–6432 (2010)CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Synthesis and improved dye-sensitized solar cells performance of TiO2 nanowires/nanospheres composites
Authors
Hui Liu
Mengyan Li
Ting Lv
Chunkui Zhu
Publication date
25-07-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics / Issue 12/2016
Print ISSN: 0957-4522
Electronic ISSN: 1573-482X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-5390-8

Other articles of this Issue 12/2016

(K0.5Na0.5)0.96Li0.04Nb0.86Ta0.1Sb0.04O3–SrZrO3 ceramics with good fatigue-resistance and temperature-stable piezoelectric properties

Hot wire chemical vapor deposited multiphase silicon carbide (SiC) thin films at various filament temperatures

Enhanced energy storage properties of strontium barium niobate ceramics by glass addition

Effect of grain size on dielectric and piezoelectric properties of bismuth layer structure CaBi2Nb2O9 ceramics

Simple morphology-controlled fabrication of CdTiO3 nanoparticles with the aid of different capping agents

Synthesis and luminescence properties of Pr doped SLS–ZnO glass composite material for red phosphors