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An innovative hybrid QD sensitized photovoltaic carbon nanotubes microyarn has been developed using thermally‐stable and highly conductive carbon nanotubes yarns (CNYs). These CNYs are highly inter‐aligned, ultrastrong and flexible with excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical integrity and catalytic properties. The CNYs are coated with a QD‐incorporated TiO2 microfilm and intertwined with a second set of CNYs as a counter electrode (CE). The maximum photon to current conversion efficiency (ηAM1.5) achieved with prolonged‐time stability was 5.93%. These cells are capable of efficiently harvesting incident photons regardless of direction and generating photocurrents with high efficiency and operational stability. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

An efficient 3D dye-sensitized photovoltaic microwire has been developed using thermally stable and highly conductive titanium microwires and carbon nanotube yarns (CNYs). Interaligned, ultrastrong, and flexible CNYs with excellent mechanical integrity and electrocatalytic property were successfully used as counter electrodes (CEs). The TiO 2 nanophase coated Ti-microwire acts as the working electrode (WE). The CEs were twisted around the WE to collect and transmit the photogenerated electrons from the outer circuit. The interface in between photoactive TiO 2 film and 3D conductive support has been optimized. The optimized 3D WPVC shows a 0.583% photon to energy conversion efficiency under an irradiation of AM 1.5 (100 mW cm À2 ). Cells with various lengths were observed to attain a fill factor (FF) above 0.8. This work tested WPVCs under different working environments to assess their engineering potential.

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