TiO₂ electrode with three-dimensional interweaved network structure for effective electrons transport and electrolyte diffusion in dye-sensitized solar cell

Highlights: • Photo polymerization induced phase separation method was used to prepare TiO₂ films. • TiO₂ films with three-dimensional network structure were used as photoanodes. • Energy conversion efficiency was enhanced compared to that of P25 film. • Both electrons transport and ions diffusion were promoted compared to P25 film. - Abstract: TiO₂ electrodes with a three-dimensional interweaved network structure were fabricated on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates for use in dye-sensitized solar cells. The structure was realized by photo-polymerization-induced phase separation. The electrodes had a continuous TiO₂ skeleton and numerous interconnected macro/mesopores, which formed large three-dimensional cavity channels. The energy conversion efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell having the electrode was 3.01%, or 37.2% higher than that of a dye-sensitized solar cell having a P25 electrode with the same film thickness of 5 μm. The enhanced conversion efficiency can be attributed to improved electrons transport and I⁻/I₃⁻ ion diffusion of photoanodes having interweaved network structure