Anatase TiO2 beads having ultra-fast electron diffusion rates for use in low temperature flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

► First use of mesoporous TiO2 beads in all plastic substrate flexible dye-sensitized solar cell. ► Pure anatase TiO2 beads were synthesis using a modified and more efficient two-step method. ► The resulting cells good efficiencies, as high as ∼5%. ► Ultra-fast electron diffusion rates, less than 1 ms, were obtained. ► The shortest diffusion rate obtained is only ∼0.37 ms for a 7.6 μm photoanode.