Magnetic-field enhanced photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticle-based solar cells

The effect of an external magnetic field on the performance of dye-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticle-based solar cells (DSCs) is investigated. At the short circuit, increases in photocurrent of ∼13% can be obtained at an external magnetic fields of 45 mT, which led to an increase in the energy conversion efficiency (η) of ∼10%. After the external magnetic fields of 45 mT disappeared, the η is not decreased instantaneously but nearly keeps its initial value during the time of observation. This suggests that the performance of DSCs is improved by the application of a weak magnetic field.