3D photoelectrode for dye solar cells realized by laser micromachining of photosensitive glass

An explorative dye solar cell architecture based on the implementation of a 3D micropatterned photoelectrode is disclosed here. An array of conical micropillars has been realized by laser micromachining of photosensitive glass which has been advantageously used as a substrate for deposition of a thin transparent conductive layer and a thick mesoporous TiO2 electrode. A significantly higher photocurrent density has been detected as an effect of the extended overall absorbing area of the micropatterned photoelectrode with respect to a conventional 2D reference photoelectrode. This enhancement can also be partially imputable to a not negligible "waveguide effect" occurring within the glass micropillars.