Modulating the assembly of organic dye molecules on titania nanocrystals via alkyl chain elongation for efficient mesoscopic cobalt solar cells.

Through elongating the end or side alkyl chains of dye molecules, we decorate anatase nanocrystals with a thicker organic assembly featuring a smaller tilt angle of the D-π-A backbone with respect to the surface normal, which retards the interfacial charge recombination and confers a higher photovoltage output on mesoscopic cobalt solar cells displaying an over 10% power conversion efficiency at the AM1.5G conditions.