Solvothermal synthesis and high optical performance of three-dimensional sea-urchin-like TiO2

• 3D sea-urchin-like TiO2 was synthesized by solvothermal method.
• The effects of preparation parameters on the microstructure of the microspheres were investigated.
• The photoelectric properties of 3D sea-urchin-like TiO2 were studied upon DSSCs.
• The PCE of the 3D sea-urchin-like TiO2 was higher than that of other morphologies.

Three-dimensional (3D) sea-urchin-like TiO2 microspheres were successfully synthesised by solvothermal method. The effects of preparation parameters including reaction temperature, concentration and mass fraction of precursor, and solvent volume on the microstructure of the microspheres were investigated. Results of scanning electron microscopy showed that the preparation parameters played a critical role in the morphology of 3D sea-urchin-like TiO2. In addition, when the sea-urchin-like TiO2 nanostructures were used as the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) anode, the power-conversion efficiency was higher than that of other morphologies, which was due to the special 3D hierarchical nanostructure, large specific surface area, and enhanced absorption of UV–vis of the TiO2 nanostructures.

I–V characteristics of different TiO2 microspheres based DSSCs (a) 3D sphere-like, (b) 3D flower-like, (c) 3D sea-urchin-like.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide