1-D electron path of 3-D architecture consisting of dye loaded CdS nanowires: Dye sensitized solar cell

•Synthesis of CdS nanowires via simple chemical route.•Use of high surface area CdS nanowires photoanode first time in DSSC.•Well directed charge transport with reduced probability of recombination.•Use of Ru-metal free organic dyes, namely Rhodamine B and Rose Bengal as sensitizes.•Device grade development of CdS nanowires coated with dye as DSSC.

A bottom-up approach is demonstrated for the synthesis of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanowires on pregrown compact CdS layer through simple and low cost wet chemical approach. These CdS nanowires are loaded with Ru-metal free organic dyes namely, Rhodamine B and Rose Bengal to serve as a photoanode in dye sensitized solar cells. The dye loaded CdS NWs films revealed good absorption coverage in the visible region of the solar spectrum. The photovoltaic performance of the devices with CdS nanowires shows efficiency of 0.1201% ± 6.6 × 10−5% for Rhodamine B and 0.125% ± 3.4 × 10−5% for Rose Bengal dye under standard illumination of sunlight (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW/cm2). The use of 1-D CdS nanowire proves well directed electron pathway which may exhibit promising candidate towards the next generation colourful solar cell.