a photovoltaic electrode is made by the following steps : depositing on a substrate a dispersion comprising powdered semiconductor particles in a dispersion medium ; removing the majority of the dispersion medium to leave the powdered semiconductor particles in a deposition layer on the substrate ; creating a plasma using microwave energy excitation ; exposing the deposition layer to said microwave - excited plasma for a sufficient time to sinter the nanoparticles thereby adhering them to the substrate ; and absorbing a dye into said sintered deposition layer . the electrode thus obtained exhibits improved performance relative to conventional sintered electrodes .