Mesoporous TiO2 microspheres synthesized with assistance of different structural controlling reagents and their photovoltaic properties

In this paper, hierarchical mesoporous TiO2 microspheres composing of connected nanoparticles were synthesized by the aids of aniline, lauryl alcohol and nonanoic acid. The dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on the mesoporous TiO2 microspheres demonstrated photoelectric conversion efficiencies of 3.9–6.5%, which are dramatically higher than that based on commercial P25 (3.26%). Mediated by different structural controlling reagents, the as-formed mesoporous TiO2 microspheres exhibited obvious difference in photovoltaic properties. Mainly due to the higher dye adsorption capacity, higher light scattering capability, as well as better inter- and intra-sphere connection, the microspheres synthesized with the assistance of aniline offered the highest photovoltaic efficiency.

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► Structural controlling agents determine morphology and photovoltaic properties of TiO2 anodes.
► Mesoporous microspheres show difference in conductivity, BET area, and photovoltaic property.
► Aided by aniline, mesoporous TiO2 microspheres exhibit a photovoltaic efficiency of 6.5%.