A simple preparation method for quasi-solid-state flexible dye-sensitized solar cells by using sea urchin-like anatase TiO2 microspheres

Abstract Sea urchin-like anatase TiO 2 microspheres with hierarchical structure were prepared by a solvothermal method, and were applied for fabricating quasi-solid-state flexible dye-sensitized solar cells through a simple method of mixing it with ethanol and HCl. The flexible solar cells were investigated by the methods of electrochemical impedance spectra, open-circuit voltage decay and photocurrent–voltage curves. It is found that the hierarchical TiO 2 microsphere-based solar cell shows encouraging performance (shot-circuit current density of 11.49 mA cm −2 , open-circuit voltage of 0.67 V, fill factor of 0.56, and conversion efficiency of 4.32%), which is much better than that of commercial TiO 2 nanoparticles (P25)-based one, due to its excellent particle interconnections, low electron recombination and high specific surface area.