Abstract
An optimized configuration for nanomaterials in working electrodes is vital to the high performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Here, a fabrication method is introduced for multi‐shell TiO2 hollow nanoparticles (MS‐TiO2‐HNPs) via a sol–gel reaction, calcination, and an etching process. The prepared uniform MS‐HNPs have a high surface area (ca. 171 m2 g−1), multireflection, and facile electrolyte circulation and diffusion. During the MS‐HNP fabrication process, the amount of SiO2 precursor and H2O under reaction has a significant effect on aggregation and side reactions. The etching process to obtain pure TiO2 is influenced by anatase crystallinity. Additionally, single‐shell (SS)‐TiO2‐HNPs and double‐shell (DS)‐TiO2‐HNPs are synthesized as a control. The MS‐TiO2‐HNPs exhibit a high surface area and enhance light reflectance, compared with the SS‐ and DS‐TiO2‐HNPs of the same size. The power conversion efficiency of the optimized MS‐TiO2‐HNP‐based DSSCs is 9.4%, compared with the 8.0% efficiency demonstrated by SS‐TiO2‐HNP‐DSSCs (a 17.5% improvement). These results enable the utilization of multifunctional MS‐HNPs in energy material applications, such as lithium ion batteries, photocatalysts, water‐splitting, and supercapacitors.
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