Improving the performance of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells by using TiO2 nanosheets with exposed highly reactive facets.

We demonstrated CdS quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) based on anatase TiO2 nanosheets with exposed {001} and {100} facets. Under the illumination of one Sun (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW cm(-2)), the photovoltaic conversion efficiencies were 2.29% for a QDSSC based on {001}-TiO2 nanosheets, 2.18% for a QDSSC based on {100}-TiO2 nanosheets, and 1.46% for a QDSSC based on commercial Degussa P25. It was found that the exposed highly reactive facets of TiO2 nanosheets had a remarkable influence on the QDSSCs due to their better adsorption abilities for QDs, leading to the high short current density and the enhanced photovoltaic performance.