Core-sheath carbon nanostructured fibers for efficient wire-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells.

A novel core-sheath carbon nanostructured fiber is created with high tensile strength, electrical conductivity, and electrocatalytic activity. In particular, the designed ribbon-like nanostructure on the outer surface favors the attachment and impregnation of a second functional phase that is critical for electronic devices. As a demonstration, novel wire-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells are produced with high energy conversion efficiencies up to 6.83%.