Pure anatase TiO2 “nanoglue”: An inorganic binding agent to improve nanoparticle interconnections in the low-temperature sintering of dye-sensitized solar cells

An interparticle-binding agent, or “nanoglue,” was prepared for the fabrication of well-interconnected TiO2 photoelectrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) sintered at low temperature. This nanoglue consisted of pure anatase particles approximately 5 nm in diameter dispersed in alcoholic solvent. When mixed with TiO2 particles 21 nm in diameter, the nanoglue induced interparticle chemical bridging via the condensation of hydroxyl groups on surfaces of TiO2 particles. The efficiency of nanoglue-based DSSCs was improved by approximately 25% compared to non-nanoglue-based DSSCs. This improvement was mainly ascribed to enhanced interparticle connections due to the presence of the 5 nm TiO2 particles in nanoglue.