Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous anatase TiO2 nanostructures via organic acid precursor process for dye-sensitized solar cells applications

Titania (TiO2) nanoparticles have been synthesized using organic precursor technique. The titania nanoparticles were characterized. The results indicated that the prepared titanium oxalate and citrate precursors were transformed to anatase TiO2 phase at temperature 400 °C for 2 h. Dye-sensitized solar cells were assembled using the prepared nanocrystalline TiO2 with large surface area. The specific surface area SBET was 80.9 and 78.6 m2/g using oxalic and citric acids, respectively. The power efficiency was 3.5 and 2.4%. A brief discussion on the possible reasons behind the low power conversion efficiency observed for these type of solar cells was reported.