Integration of metal oxide nanowires in dye sensitized solar cells

One of the most promising architectures of third generation solar cells is integration of single crystalline nanowires as electron transporters in anodes of electrochemical cells. The nanowire-based cells aim at significantly increase cell efficiency thanks to the higher mobility of electrons along the single crystalline lattice of the nanowires with respect to traditional polycrystalline networks, greatly reducing electron-hole recombination controllable by passivation, functionalization or coaxial coating of the nanowire. The nanonetworks have been integrated in DSCs using the traditional N719 dye and the I₃ ^-/I^- redox couple. The functional properties of the cells under 1 sun irradiation have been compared with traditional polycrystalline TiO₂ photoanodes.