Improved morphology and photovoltaic performance in TiO2 nanorod arrays based dye sensitized solar cells by using a seed layer

► TiO2 nanorod arrays were grown on the seeded-FTO substrate by hydrothermal method. ► TiO2 seed layer significantly increased the density and orientation of the nanorods. ► DSSC based on TiO2 nanorod arrays with seed layer exhibited an efficiency of 2.55%.