Metal oxide nanoparticles as electron transport layer for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Metal oxide nanoparticles (MO-NPs) and their solar cell applications are a universally interesting topic covering a wide variety of advanced research and emerging developments in this field. This chapter focuses on the significance of MO-NPs as an electron transport layer (ETL) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The first section of this chapter presents readers with an introduction to DSSC technology and its working principles. The second section introduces feasible metal oxide-based ETL materials and an outline of current routes to boosting the device’s performance using innovative approaches through the molecular engineering aspect of ETL materials. In the last section, highly promising titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based ETL and its ability to be modified are highlighted in detail to illustrate the importance of TiO2 in terms of the state of the art of DSSCs. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved