One-dimensional and (001) Facetted Nanostructured TiO2 Photoanodes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

As one of the most important components in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), photoanode materials have attracted massive interest and been greatly developed through the efforts of various research institutions in recent years. Photoanode materials not only provide a large surface for the sensitizer to favor charge separation, but also conduct the electrons to the collection electrode. In recent years, one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures (nanotubes (NT), nanowires (NW) and nanorods(NR)), which offer direct pathways for electron transport, and nanostructures (nanosheets (NS) and nanoparticles (NP)) with (001) crystal facets which possess higher surface energies have been widely employed as photoanode materials. In this review, the progress of 1D nanostructures and those with (001) crystal facets, as well as their photovoltaic performance in DSCs will be discussed briefly. Further efforts are needed to provide theoretical research for 1D and (001) facet nanostructured TiO2 and to improve DSC performances based on these photoanodes.