Novel flexible photoanode based on Ag nanowire/polymer composite electrode.

A novel flexible photoanode based on a silver nanowire (AgNW)/polymer composite electrode was fabricated and used for dye-sensitized solar cells. The AgNW/polymer composite substrate comprised a thin percolation network of AgNWs embedded on the surface of polyacrylic ester. As titanium dioxide film formed on top of the composite substrate, the effect of compression was investigated. Drop-cast sensitization was then used for both pressed and nonpressed photoanode, and the nonpressed one performed better. A cell efficiency of 0.91% was achieved under 100 mW cm simulated solar irradiation. After a bending test on the flexible photoanode, the solar cell retained 0.71% efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]