Soft processing of hierarchical oxide nanostructures for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

• Published in: Nano energy 2013-11, Vol.2 (6), p.1354-1372
• Main Authors: Wu, Jih-Jen, Liao, Wen-Pin, Yoshimura, Masahiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Hierarchical nanostructure; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Materials science; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoparticle film; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanowire array; Natural energy; Photovoltaic conversion; Physics; Quantum wires; Soft processing; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Solution processing; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2013.06.018

To improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), numerous hierarchically nanostructured anodes based on nanoparticle films and nanowire arrays have been constructed, exhibiting a high surface area for dye adsorption and the ability to scatter light. This review briefly summarizes the latest progress in conventional solution processing and soft processing routes for fabricating hierarchical TiO2 and ZnO nanostructures on transparent conducting oxide (TCO) substrates for DSSC anodes. Soft processing routes, which directly fabricate functional materials with the desired composition, structure, shape, size, location, and orientation with low energy, have been demonstrated to be efficient methods for preparing hierarchical DSSC anodes based on nanowire arrays on TCO substrates. [Display omitted] •The latest progress in conventional solution processing and soft processing routes for hierarchical TiO2 and ZnO nanostructures for DSSC.•The strategies and formation mechanisms of hierarchical nanostructures on TCO substrates by wet-chemical routes.•Soft processing routes, which directly fabricate functional materials with low energy, are efficient methods for preparing hierarchical DSSC anodes.