Nanostructured TiO2 films for DSSCS prepared by combining doctor-blade and sol–gel techniques

Nanostructured TiO2 films were prepared by combining commercial titania powder (Degussa P25) with a titanium alkoxide sol. The produced composite paste was deposited on conductive glass substrates by the doctor-blade technique forming high surface area electrodes. The hydrolysis and the polymerization of the alkoxide within the clusters of the semiconductor's powder, followed by effective thermally induced sintering of the titania particles, led to nanocrystalline thin films characterized by controlled porosity, high roughness and complex surface features. The modified films were efficiently incorporated in the fabrication process of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), where an overall energy conversion efficiency (η) as high as 1.9% was achieved.