Hydrochloric acid treatment of TiO2 electrode for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated by sandwiched polymer electrolyte containing liquid electrolytes between the dye-sensitized TiO2 electrode and a Pt electrode. The influence of hydrochloric acid treatment of TiO2 photoelectrode on the photoelectronic performance was investigated. Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell showed better photoelectronic performance when the TiO2 electrode was treated with hydrochloric acid than that without treatment. The short-circuit current density (J(sc)), the open-circuit voltage (V(oc)), and a conversion efficiency obtained for an incident light intensity of 100 mW m(-2) were 6.49 mA cm(-2), 0.76 V and 4.1%, respectively. It was found that the hydrochloric acid treatment of TiO2 electrode increased the short-circuit current density and cell efficiency.