Oriented ZnO nanotubes arrays decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on a novel composite photoanode of TiO2 nanoparticles coating on electrodeposited ZnO nanotube arrays are fabricated and characterized. An efficiency of 3.94 % is achieved for the composite cell, increasing 86.7 % than 2.11 % of the ZnO nanotubes cell. The short-circuit current (J (sc)) and open-circuit voltage (V (oc)) are also enhancing 52.9 % and 25.3 %, respectively. The improvements are because of the high surface area of TiO2 nanoparticles, as well as fast electron transport and light scattering effect of ZnO nanotubes.