Preparation of TiO2-based nanotubes/nanoparticles composite thin film electrodes for their electron transport properties

• The composite thin film electrodes (CTFEs) were prepared with nanotubes and nanoparticles.
• The CTFEs possess the rapid electron transport and high surface area.
• The CTFEs exhibit lower recombination rate and longer electron life time.
• The CTFEs have great applied potential in the field of photovoltaic devices.

The composite thin film electrodes were prepared with one-dimensional (1D) TiO2-B nanotubes (NTs) and zero-dimensional TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) based on different weight ratios. The electron transport properties of the NTs/NPs composite thin film electrodes applied for dye-sensitized solar cells had been investigated systematically. The results indicated that although the amount of dye adsorption decreased slightly, the devices with the NTs/NPs composite thin film electrodes could obtain higher open-circuit voltage and overall conversion efficiency compared to devices with pure TiO2 NPs electrodes by rational tuning the weight ratio of TiO2-B NTs and TiO2 NPs. When the weight ratio of TiO2-B NTs in the NTs/NPs composite thin film electrodes increased, the density of states and recombination rate decreased. The 1D structure of TiO2-B NTs can provide direct paths for electron transport, resulting in higher electron lifetime, electron diffusion coefficient and electron diffusion length. The composite thin film electrodes possess the merits of the rapid electron transport of TiO2-B NTs and the high surface area of TiO2 NPs, which has great applied potential in the field of photovoltaic devices.