Promotion of power conversion in dye sensitized solar cells by using hydroxylated TiO2 electrodes

High density adsorption methods of N719 on TiO2 electrodes with intentional hydroxylation were examined for achieving higher power conversion efficiency in dye sensitized solar cells. The IR absorption spectroscopy indicated that both UV and water vapor treatments for the hydroxylation were effective in generating OH sites on TiO for the high density adsorption of N719. In the water vapor treatment, setting the TiO2 temperature around 190 °C is necessary to generate OH sites effectively on the surface. Both the hydroxylation methods were effective in enhancing short circuit current density in dye sensitized solar cells, where the increase was confirmed 23% compared to those without the treatments.