Semiconductor nanoparticles sensitized TiO2 nanotubes for high efficiency solar cell devices

Titanium di-oxide (TiO2) nanotubes (NTs) based solar cells are currently analyzed for the high efficiency solar cell devices due to its efficient electron transport. In this context, the present review deals about the recent advances made through the semiconductor nanoparticles sensitization on well aligned, vertically oriented TiO2 NTs for fabrication of high efficiency third generation solar cells architecture. This review also deals with the efficient methods which are currently used to sensitize TiO2 NTs by semiconductor nanoparticles. Special attention has been paid to the sensitization effect of cadmium chalcogenides based nanoparticles (CdS, CdSe, CdTe) on TiO2 nanotubes in improving the efficiency of the solar cell. The expectations on TiO2 NTs to face the 20 Terawatt (20 TW) challenge is examined. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.