Enhanced photoelectrical performance of TiO₂ electrodes integrated with microtube-network structures

Microtube-network structures were coupled into nanocrystalline TiO₂ porous photoelectrodes, resulting in a 30% enhancement of the total photo-to-electrical conversion efficiency comparing to that of conventional electrodes of the same thickness. The textural material was formed by thermal removal of electrospun polymer nanofibers, which were encapsulated in a TiO₂ nanoparticle matrix. Due to the microtube-network structure in the photoelectrodes, the optical path length within the porous film was considerably extended and the internal resistance of the devices was decreased, resulting in better light-collection efficiency, reduced charge recombination and fast ionic diffusion, and thus higher photoelectrical performance.