Vertically aligned anatase TiO2 nanowire bundle arrays: Use as Pt support for counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

• Vertically anatase TiO2 nanowire bundle array is prepared.
• The TiO2 nanowire array is used as Pt support to fabricate counter electrode.
• The counter electrode provides more active sites and higher charge transfer.
• An enhanced conversion efficiency was obtained.

Vertically aligned anatase TiO2 nanowire bundle arrays are prepared via a solvothermal and subsequent calcination process. Pt nanoparticles with a size of 4–6 nm are uniformly immobilized on TiO2 nanowire bundle array to obtain Pt/TiO2 nanowire bundle array counter electrode, which can remarkably enhance catalytically active sites and provide facile transport of ions and electrons. The as-prepared materials are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) fabricated with Pt/TiO2 nanowire bundle array counter electrode shows significantly higher photovoltaic performance than the conventional Pt counter electrode.

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