Improved electron-collection performance of dye sensitized solar cell based on three-dimensional conductive grid

Composite photoelectrodes consisting of mesoporous TiO2 and three-dimensional (3D) fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive grid were fabricated. The nanostructures of prepared photoelectrodes were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The power conversion performances of DSCs based on composite photoelectrodes were investigated by the current density–voltage (J–V) characteristics. Compared to TiO2 based DSCs, DSCs based on FTO conductive grid exhibit higher short-circuit current density (Jsc) and power conversion efficiency (PCE). The analysis on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) reveals that the higher photoelectric conversion performance of DSCs with FTO conductive grid is attributed to more competitive electron collection than recombination.

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► DSC photoelectrode based on three dimensional FTO conductive grid was fabricated.
► FTO conductive grid can shorten electron transport distance.
► FTO conductive grid can increase photocurrent density and power conversion efficiency of DSC.