Fabrication of glass-free photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by transfer method using ZnO nanorods sacrificial layer

Abstract

Glass-free TiO2 photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared by a novel transfer method using sacrificial ZnO nanorods. A TiO2 layer was formed on the hydrothermally grown ZnO nanorods by conventional doctor-blading and subsequent high-temperature calcination. Afterwards, an Ag epoxy film on a PET substrate was adhered to the sintered TiO2 layer. A glass-free TiO2 photoelectrode was finally generated by selective etching of the ZnO nanorods in an acidic solution. Glass-free DSSCs were fabricated with a platinium(Pt)-coated conductive PET counter electrode, having a power conversion efficiency of 4.8% and a short-circuit current of 18.06 mA/cm(2).