High efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells (9.3%) by using a new compact layer: Decrease series resistance and increase shunt resistance

•This the first time that such a simple and effective compact layer is used for DSSCs.•This is the first time that compact layer is used before deposited TiO2 NPs by EPD.•Here, we deposit scatter layer by using EPD method for the first time.•Different concentration of compact layer is investigated.•Different methods are applied for deposition of compact layer.

A novel and simple barrier layer has been successfully used to improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The power conversion efficiency of DSSCs with a novel and simple barrier layer is 9.3%, which is an increase of 14.6% compared to the cell without a novel barrier layer (8.11%).