Electrodeposition of hierarchical zinc oxide nanostructures on metal meshes as photoanodes for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract Hierarchical zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays (ZNRAs) were fabricated on stainless steel meshes via a two-step electrodeposition approach as flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) photoanodes. The two-step electrodeposition was realized by deposition of primary ZNRAs followed by growth of secondary branched ZnO nanorods on the primary ZnO nanorods surfaces. The morphologies of ZNRAs and the photovoltaic performances of the assembled DSSCs with different deposition conditions of primary ZNRAs were compared in detail. After modulating electrodeposition conditions, the DSSC assembled with hierarchical ZNRAs obtained an optimum photovoltaic performance with power conversion efficiency of 1.81 %.