Double-layer porous TiO2 electrodes for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

We report a rapid and inexpensive method to fabricate double-layer porous TiO2 electrodes for quasisolid dye-sensitized solar cells. Polymethylmethacrylate mixed with titanium alkoxide in methyl ethyl ketone was used as template precursor. Thermal removal of the polymer at 500°C leads to mesoporous double-layer TiO2 thin films of nanocrystalline anatase. The cells show a high open-circuit voltage of ∼1.18V and overall photoelectric conversion efficiency of 2.05% under an illumination of one sun (AM1.5 global, 100mW∕cm2).