Echinoid-like particles with high surface area for dye-sensitized solar cells

•Echinoid-like TiO2 particles with large surface area were synthesized through modified sol–gel method.•Echinoid-like particles resulted in faster electron recombination than bead particles in DSSC.•More dye loading on echinoid-like particles led to the dramatic increment in JSC.•Overall PCE of DSSC was improved by using echinoid-like particles.

Echinoid-like particles were synthesized and applied to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). When echinoid-like particles were used in the DSSCs, dye-loading was increased because of its large surface area. Moreover, it was observed by diffused reflectance that scattering effect was induced by the micron size of echinoid-like particles. Although it was observed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis that more recombination was occurred in the echinoid-like particles, the enhancement of JSC resulting from the increase of dye-loading compensated the decrease of VOC. As a result, the overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) was enhanced from 6.63% to 6.74%.

Graphical abstractFE-SEM images of (a) echinoid-like TiO2 particles and (b) spherical TiO2 beads used to prepare the photoanode in DSSC.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide