Unconventional Routes for the Enhancement of the Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) Based on Self-Assembled Block Copolymer Nanotemplates

We introduce distinctly different and creative two strategies for improving the efficiency of TiO$_{2}$-based DSSCs by incorporation of tailored hybrid nanostrcutures prepared from self-assembled block copolymer nanotemplates. Firstly, carbonized TiO$_{2}$ thin layer was incorporated into at the interface either between the transparent electrode and TiO$_{2}$ NP layers or between the electrolyte and TiO$_{2}$ NP layers. Massively-ordered arrays of TiO$_{2}$ dots embedded in carbon matrix were fabricated via direct carbonization of UV-stabilized PS-$b$-P4VP block copolymer films containing TiO$_{2}$ sol-gel precursors. DSSCs containing carbon/TiO$_{2}$ thin layers exhibited remarkably enhanced overall power conversion efficiency compared with DSSCs based on neat TiO$_{2}$ NPs. Secondly, we introduce a new class of organic/inorganic 1D photonic crystals exhibiting stop bands in the specific wavelength range, which was created by stepwise layer-by-layer deposition of UV-crosslinked BCP reverse micelle layers. The simple yet novel 1D layered BCP films have been introduced into the back-side of the counter electrodes as light reflector in DSSCs system to increase the light harvesting of dye.