Abstract
A mesoporous nanocrystalline TiO 2 film was prepared on a transparent conductive polymer (ITO/PEN, PEN = poly ethylene naphthalene-2, 6-dicarboxylate) through a doctor-blade method and then treated by static mechanical compression for enhancing the particles connection. Effect of TiO 2 loading and dye sensitizing condition on the photovoltaic performance were first investigated with N719 sensitizer in combination with TiO 2 solidified quasi-solid electrolyte. A solar cell with platinum-coated FTO glass counter electrode and ITO/PEN photoelectrode, prepared by an ethanol based binder-free TiO 2 paste composed of a mixture of P25 (21nm, 25% rutile and 75% anatase) and 100 nm anatase TiO 2 particles, yielded highest conversion efficiencies of 6.53% under 1 sun illumination. © 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.