Nanowire dye-sensitized solar cell with a novel light-scattering layer

A significant enrichment of the efficiency of ZnO nanowire (NW) dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is achieved using a novel light-scattering layer of nanofilm. The nanofilm is derived from the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-hosted SnO₂/ZnO nanofibers electrospun on the top of ZnO NW array. To construct a nanofilm on ZnO NW array, the PVP-hosted nanofibers are swollen using methanol vapor followed by a high-temperature calcination. Jsc and Voc of the nanofilm/ZnO NW DSSC are all enhanced compared to those of the ZnO NW DSSC, resulting in a considerable enhancement of the efficiency.