Mix-solvent-thermal method for the synthesis of anatase nanocrystalline titanium dioxide used in dye-sensitized solar cell

Nanocrystalline TiO₂ with almost pure anatase form has been synthesized through the Mix-solvent-thermal method (MST) by using TiCl₄ as the starting material. The mean size of the synthesized TiO₂ is 10 nm with narrow distribution. High-performance dye-sensitized solar cell with nanocrystalline TiO₂ electrode formed from MST was achieved. Its I_sc and V_oc values reached 21.62 mA/cm² and 727.9 mV, respectively, and the photovoltaic conversion efficiency reached 9.13%, i.e. 7.5% higher than those of solar cells with TiO₂ made from the traditional precursor of titanium alkoxides. To our knowledge they are the highest values obtained from the solar cells with nanocrystalline TiO₂ electrode formed from the hydrolysis of TiCl₄.