Abstract:In this paper, well-defined hierarchical ZnO nanostructure were synthesized in large scale on flexible Ni mesh by a two-step facile electrodeposition method. In detail, the primary ZNRAs were firstly electrodeposited on Ni mesh, and then ZnO nanorod branches grew on the primary structures pre-coated with ZnO nanoparticle seed layer. The structure and morphology of the as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of preparing conditions on the electrodeposition of ZnO nanostructure and related photoelectrochemical properties were investigated in detail. It is demonstrated that the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) constructed by hierarchical ZnO nanostructures exhibited a relatively higher photo-to-electric conversion efficiency of 0.80% compared with that based on bare ZNRAs (0.52%). The improved performance may be attributed to the enhanced surface area for higher dye loading and light harvesting, which was caused by ZnO hierarchical nanostructures serving as photoanode materials.