Synthesis of Rutile TiO2 Nanorod andApplication in Dye―sensitized Solar Cell

The sodiumdodecyl benzene sulfate (DBS) surfactant was used in the hydrothermal synthesisof TiO2 nanomaterials. Without the addition of DBS in the TiO2 Sol,theobtained sample is 10~20nm anatase TiO2 nanoparticle. While with the additionof DBS, the obtained sample turns to rutile TiO2 nanorod. Althoughthe dye adsorption ability and the photovoltaic performance of thephotoelectrode with rutile TiO2 nanorod is poorer than that of thephotoelectrode with anatase TiO2 nanoparticle, the rutile TiO2nanorod has higher light scattering ability. When using the rutile TiO2nanorod in the fabrication of the reflecting layer in the photoelectrode, thelayer can reflect light and convert energy. This new kind of reflecting layerin the photoelectrode shows higher efficiency in enhancing the energy conversionefficiency of dye―sensitized solar cell (with 26.14% enhancement) than that oftraditional Ti―nanoxide 300 reflecting layer (with 11.04% enhancement). Thereason is that the double functions of rutile TiO2 nanorod reflectinglayer are superior than that of traditional Ti―nanoxide 300 reflecting layer inenhancing the short―circuit current density of dye―sensitized solar cell.