The efficiency (η) of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) depends on various parameters, the critical factors being a fast charge carrier transport and a slow rate of electron–hole recombination. The present article describes a simple combustion synthesis method to prepare TiO 2– x N x with following four important features that directly influences η: (1) a disordered mesoporous structural framework with high surface area to give high dye-loading and a small diffusion length for charge carriers allowing rapid movement to the surface; (2) electrically interconnected nanocrystalline TiO 2– x N x particles with good necking and predominant (101) anatase facets to minimize electron–hole recombination; (3) low charge storage capacity in the titania framework; and (4) surface unsaturation assisting all the above factors. The pseudo-three-dimensional nature of mesoporous TiO 2– x N x with the above features demonstrates the importance of textural features, and porosity allows faster diffusion of charge carriers to surface and their utilization to generate power. A quantitative correlation between interconnected nanoparticles over larger distances in a mesoporous framework and η is demonstrated. This study also demonstrates an inexpensive and rapid method of producing the photoanode material with high η in about 10 min.
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Sivaranjani et al. (2011) studied this question.