Nanostructured CuO films on copper:: Fabrication and application as a cathode in dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells

Nanostructured CuO films are grown on copper substrates by a wet chemical method in a water bath. It has been successfully used as a cathode for dye-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticle solar cells. The effects of reaction temperature, time, and pH on the film properties and solar energy conversion have been investigated. Under favorable conditions, we obtain a short circuit current density of Jsc = 0.83 mA/cm(2), an open circuit voltage of Voc = 0.59 mV, a fill factor of FF = 0.25, and a power conversion efficiency of ne = 0.82%(with white light illumination:15 mW/cm2). The nanostructured CuO films appear to be a promising hole-transport media in dye-sensitized solar cells for the photocurrent generation.