Sonochemical preparation of mesoporous titania submicrospheres for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

•Facile one-step sonochemical synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 submicrospheres.•The mesoporous TiO2 submicrospheres had a prominent light scattering effect.•This efficiency was increased about 25% in comparison to Degussa P25.

Three-dimensional and thermally stable mesoporous TiO2 submicrospheres are synthesized without the use of any surfactants via treatment with high intensity ultrasound irradiation for a short period of time. Techniques of X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and UV–vis spectrum are used to characterize the structure and morphology of the product. The specific surface area of the mesoporous TiO2 submicrospheres is calculated to be 53 cm2 g−1. The UV–Vis spectrum shows that the mesoporous TiO2 submicrospheres have high light-scattering ability and light absorption by dye. In addition, when applied as the light-scattering layer in dye-sensitized solar cell, an overall photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 7.92% has been achieved, significantly higher than that derived from P25 electrode (6.32%).

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