One-step electrodeposition of TiO2/dye hybrid films

Crystalline TiO2 films can be formed by anodic electrodeposition from TiCl3 solution. In this study we investigated the co-deposition of TiO2 with different organic dye molecules as structure-directing agents. The best results were obtained with the pH-indicator bromothymol blue, which leads to the formation of thick, crystalline and porous films. The films were tested in dye-sensitized solar cells and gave a five times higher efficiency compared to the film deposited with sodium dodecyl sulfate in our earlier study.