Highly efficient indoline dyes co-sensitized solar cells composed of titania nanorods

Highly crystalline titania nanorods were prepared from H2Ti3O7 nanotubes precursor and then used as the photoanode for indoline dyes sensitized solar cells. The cells sensitized by D131, D102 and D149 dyes exhibited the efficiencies of 4.63%, 4.56% and 5.47%, respectively. Interestingly, the photovoltaic properties can be enhanced significantly when the mixed dye was used as a sensitizer. The best efficiency of 7.30% was obtained using the mixed dye of D131 and D149 as a sensitizer. This result might be ascribed to the increased light-harvesting, prolonged electron lifetime and inhibited interfacial charge recombination.

► Highly crystalline H2Ti3O7 nanotubes were successfully synthesized and used as an electrode precursor for indoline dyes sensitized solar cells.
► The photovoltaic properties can be enhanced significantly when two indoline dyes were used as a co-sensitizer.
► The best efficiency of 7.30% was obtained for a cell sensitized by a mixed dye of D131 and D149.