TiO2 nanopowder sintering during dye-sensitized solar cell working electrode preparation usually takes hours and is the rate-limiting step to rapid production of dye-sensitized solar cells. Here, we show that by far infrared rapid thermal annealing (RTA) method, TiO2 working electrode sintering time reduces from hours to minutes. 5 min binders/solvents removal time at 250 degrees C plus 10 min sintering time at 500 degrees C in a RTA system gives a cell with the efficiency of 4.37%. Although the rapid removal of binders/solvents causes the TiO2 film structure collapsing and gives a more compact working electrode structure, the far infrared RTA method directly radiates TiO2 layer giving binders/solvents removal and sintering within minutes and is ideal for rapid DSSC fabrication. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.