Using two-step anodized TiO2 nanotubes to increase the collection efficiency of DSSCs at low illumination angles

Photonic crystals (PCs) with extraordinary optical properties, can be used to enhance light absorption and improve solar cell’s conversion efficiency. Prohibition of propagation for some particular wavelengths of light in PCs result in increasing the path length of light in working electrode of solar cell that enhance the probability of photon absorption. In our work, we present a two-step anodization method for manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), having a three-dimensional roughness material as working electrode that looks like a semi-photonic crystal mesoporous structure. This approach is a facile one to produce a PC-like structure and it plays a great role in improvement of output power of DSSC. Measurements show that solar cell’s photovoltaic conversion efficiency based on this 3D roughness structure is higher than the conventional DSSC.