Fabrication of an Efficient Light-Scattering Functionalized Photoanode Using Periodically Aligned ZnO Hemisphere Crystals for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

A periodically aligned submicron ZnO hemispheres array was embedded into a TiO2 nanoparticulate thin film (thickness; ca. 12 mu m) as a photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The ZnO hemisphere array provided light scattering centers that excited more dyes and direct electron pathways to the electrodes, which is beneficial for high efficiency DSSCs.