Electrochemical Self-Assembly of Nanoporous ZnO/Eosin Y Thin Films and Their Sensitized Photoelectrochemical Performance

The photoactive materials in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are conventionally produced by colloid coating and heat treatment followed by dye adsorption by dipping in solution. One disadvantage of this procedure is that only heat-resistant materials can be used. Here the one-step self-assembly of ZnO/eosin Y thin films is reported. It is shown that a large proportion of the incorporated eosin Y dye molecules act as sensitizers, making the films suitable as sensitized photoelectrodes in DSSCs. No heat treatment is required, allowing non-heat-resistant substrates such as flexible conductive plastic films to be used.