Electrodeposition for the synthesis of ZnO nanorods modified by surface attachment with ZnO nanoparticles and their dye-sensitized solar cell applications

• A simple two-step electrodeposited route has been used to modify the surface of ZnO nanorod arrays.
• The impacts of various deposited conditions on the morphologies and performances of DSSCs have been researched.
• The cell fabricated by the modified ZnO nanorod-arrays film shows a higher power converted efficiency of 1.66%.

This paper reports a two-step electrochemical deposited route for the synthesis of ZnO nanorods modified by surface attachment with ZnO nanoparticles and their dye-sensitized solar cell applications. X-ray powder diffraction and a field emission scanning electron microscope were used to investigate the effects of the electrodeposited parameters on the crystal phases and the morphologies of ZnO nanostructures. A dye-sensitized solar cell assembled by the modified ZnO film electrode shows a power conversion efficiency of 1.66% for its ordered ZnO nanorod-arrays attached by ZnO nanoparticles for more dye absorption, direct electronic transportation and the reduction of charge recombination.