Hydrothermal synthesis of rutile-anatase TiO2 nanobranched arrays for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Rutile-anatase TiO2 nanobranched arrays were prepared in two sequential hydrothermal-synthesis steps. The morphologies and crystalline nanostructures of the samples were investigated by controlling growth time and the concentration of the titanium precursor. All samples were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that treating the surfaces of rutile TiO2 nanorods with aqueous TiCl4 solutions allows the anatase TiO2 nanobranches to grow perpendicular to the main rutile TiO2 nanorods attached to the FTO glass. Irregularly shaped, dense TiO2 structures formed in the absence of TiCl4 treatment. A light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 3.45% was achieved using 2.3 μm tall TiO2 nanobranched arrays in a dye-sensitized solar cell. This value is significantly higher than that observed for pure rutile TiO2 nanorods.