Enhanced charge transport properties by strengthened necks between TiO2 aggregates for dye sensitized solar cells

• The added nanoparticles fill the necks preferentially.
• The fortified necks made electron transport in the TiO2 network facilitated.
• Balancing between light scattering and dye uptake should be considered.

The electron diffusion in the TiO2 aggregate network was enhanced through the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles with preferential filling at the necks between adjacent TiO2 aggregates, which resulted in strengthening the connections, while retaining the porous structure of the TiO2 network. The fortified necks was found to reduce the transport resistance (Rt) by allowing facile transfer of electrons from one aggregate to another, while the scattering effect of the TiO2 aggregate network got weakened with adding the TiO2 nanoparticles as a result of reduction of the light scattering centers such as the necks and gaps between the aggregates. However, due to the increase in surface area as the TiO2 nanoparticles were added, the diminished light scattering effect of the aggregate network was compensated and even the highest performance was achieved when the 10% TiO2 nanoparticle was added into the TiO2 aggregate film, suggesting that widening necks between sub-micrometer sized light scatters such as an aggregate would be a good strategy in achieving further improvement of power conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells through the improved charge transport property.