Preparation of TiO2 nanocrystalline with 3–5 nm and application for dye-sensitized solar cell

Nanocrystalline TiO2 with 3–5 nm in diameter was prepared with a surfactant-assisted sol–gel method. The microstructure measured by XRD and high resolution TEM was pure high crystallinity anatase phase. Dye-sensitized solar cells were assembled using the prepared nano-scale TiO2 crystals and its photocurrent–voltage performance was investigated. The electrodes give significantly higher Jsc when compared to the cell that fabricated by big particles. Also the effect of the particle size, surface area, pore structure and the film formation temperature on the performance of cells is discussed.