A simple route towards low-temperature processing of nanoporous thin films using UV-irradiation: Application for dye solar cells

Fabrication of anatase TiO2 porous films at low temperature was achieved by a very simple, straightforward and cheap method involving the connection of oxide particles by UV-irradiation in air. The novelty of the method relies on the direct UV-irradiation of oxide nanoparticles, without the presence of any oxide precursor or any additional treatment to form the nanoparticulate film. As electrodes for dye solar cells (DSCs), the 1–3 μm-thick films modified with Dyesol N3 dye showed high photovoltaic responses, a maximum overall energy conversion efficiency of 2.4–2.5% being measured under AM1.5 illumination at 100 and 140 mW cm−2. This method was extended to other semi-conducting oxides such as SnO2. Efficiencies as high as 1.8% and 1.5% were measured under AM1.5 illumination at 64 and 140 mW cm−2, respectively. This approach draws new prospects in the field of plastic organic–inorganic hybrid devices.