Electrodeposition for the synthesis of ZnO nanorods modified by surface attachment with ZnO nanoparticles and their dye-sensitized solar cell applications

• A simple two-step electrodeposited route has been used to modify the surface of ZnO nanorod arrays.• The impacts of various deposited conditions on the morphologies and performances of DSSCs have been researched.• The cell fabricated by the modified ZnO nanorod-arrays film shows a higher power converted efficiency of 1.66%.

This paper reports a two-step electrochemical deposited route for the synthesis of ZnO nanorods modified by surface attachment with ZnO nanoparticles and their dye-sensitized solar cell applications. X-ray powder diffraction and a field emission scanning electron microscope were used to investigate the effects of the electrodeposited parameters on the crystal phases and the morphologies of ZnO nanostructures. A dye-sensitized solar cell assembled by the modified ZnO film electrode shows a power conversion efficiency of 1.66% for its ordered ZnO nanorod-arrays attached by ZnO nanoparticles for more dye absorption, direct electronic transportation and the reduction of charge recombination.