TiO2 electrode with three-dimensional interweaved network structure for effective electrons transport and electrolyte diffusion in dye-sensitized solar cell

• Photo polymerization induced phase separation method was used to prepare TiO2 films.
• TiO2 films with three-dimensional network structure were used as photoanodes.
• Energy conversion efficiency was enhanced compared to that of P25 film.
• Both electrons transport and ions diffusion were promoted compared to P25 film.

TiO2 electrodes with a three-dimensional interweaved network structure were fabricated on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates for use in dye-sensitized solar cells. The structure was realized by photo-polymerization-induced phase separation. The electrodes had a continuous TiO2 skeleton and numerous interconnected macro/mesopores, which formed large three-dimensional cavity channels. The energy conversion efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell having the electrode was 3.01%, or 37.2% higher than that of a dye-sensitized solar cell having a P25 electrode with the same film thickness of 5 μm. The enhanced conversion efficiency can be attributed to improved electrons transport and I−/I3− ion diffusion of photoanodes having interweaved network structure.