Quick-low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis of nano-TiO2 powders for large area dye-sensitized solar cell

The up scaling of low-cost anatase nanocrystalline TiO₂ powders have been prepared by quick-low-temperature hydrothermal method using industrial grade TiOSO₄, CO(NH₂)₂ as starting materials. The reaction was finished under the condition of 160° for 2 hours. The grain size of the synthesized powders is estimated as 11 nm by Scherrer´s method and TEM photo. The specific surface area is 170m²/g by BET method. The influences of the TiO₂ particles and the photovoltaic performance of large size DSSC were investigated. At last, under standard test condition, active area energy conversion efficiency of 4.97% was achieved in 10cm×10cm size DSSC device at low cost. A module composed of sixty large size cells was prepared.