Electrodeposition of arborous structure nanocrystalline SnO 2 and application in flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

► Arborous structure SnO 2 porous films were electrodeposited. ► The electrodeposition mechanism of SnO 2 was proposed. ► A photo-electric conversion efficiency about 0.47% was obtained. Arborous structure SnO 2 porous films were electrodeposited on Ti substrate using pulse-potential technique. The deposition process of SnO 2 was investigated through cyclic voltammetry, potentiostatic electrolysis and chronoamperometry. It was found that SnO 2 and metallic Sn were codeposited under the low pulse potential (−0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl). The electrodeposited Sn was anodic oxidized under the subsequent high pulse potential (−0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl). The formation of SnO 2 possessed an instantaneous nucleation process. Dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using the electrodeposited SnO 2 porous films. The photo-electricity conversion efficiency was about 0.47%.