Unique TiO2 paste for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel titanium oxide paste based on Pechini sol–gel method and nanocrystalline titanium oxide powder have been successfully developed. Titanium oxide layers possess high inner surface area assuring high dye loading and well-connected nanocrystalline grains assuring good electron transport within the layer. The dye-sensitized layers have been used to assemble dye-sensitized solar cells with acetonitrile- and ionic liquid-based electrolyte. Overall conversion efficiencies of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) determined under standard test conditions (100 mW/cm2, 25 °C and AM 1.5 G) are 10.2% for acetonitrile and 7.3% for ionic liquid-based electrolyte.