Abstract

In this work, solution-processable graphene oxide (GO) dispersions were used for the simple preparation of thin GO layers (50 nm thickness), which were reduced by low-temperature hydrogen plasma. Hydrogen plasma reduction (ideal treatment time 8 sec) led to a decrease of oxygen-containing groups and consequently, in the transformation of sp3-carbon oxidized domains to preferable sp2-carbon aromatic domains in rGO layers (XPS). GO and rGO layers were used as counter-electrodes (CEs) in printed dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs with rGO CEs reached an increased conversion efficiency of 0.9 % compared to DSSCs based on GO CEs with 0.4%. This can be attributed to the higher catalytic activity of plasma reduced rGO CEs in the presence of iodine electrolyte and also lower sheet resistance compared to GO CEs.

Highlights

  • Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) belongs to the promising 3rd photovoltaic generation which has several benefits compared conventional silicon-based solar cells such as transparency, reasonable efficiency at artificial light conditions, use of low-cost materials and the possibility of printing production on a various flexible substrate [1-2]

  • Solution-processable graphene oxide (GO) dispersions were used for the simple preparation of thin GO layers (50 nm thickness), which were reduced by low-temperature hydrogen plasma

  • GO and rGO layers were used as counter-electrodes (CEs) in printed dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) belongs to the promising 3rd photovoltaic generation which has several benefits compared conventional silicon-based solar cells such as transparency (possibility for both side illumination), reasonable efficiency at artificial light conditions, use of low-cost materials and the possibility of printing production (roll-to-roll) on a various flexible substrate [1-2]. The high cost of Pt, its corrosion caused by liquid electrolyte and requirement of the high-temperature treatment of Pt CEs for the high DSSCs conversion efficiency are serious drawbacks for its large-scale preparation by printing and coating techniques. Different techniques (thermal, chemical, UV light, plasma) enable the reduction of oxygencontaining groups in GO which leads to partially restored electrical properties of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and its application as CE in DSSCs [7-8]. Among these reduction techniques, plasma treatment has great benefits of short reduction time (several seconds), low-temperature (up to 70 °C), no need of toxic chemicals and can be directly incorporated in the roll-to-roll process [9]. The very high electrical resistivity of rGO have a significant effect on overall low electrochemical performance of rGO (cyclic voltammetry) and subsequentially on the lower photovoltaic performance of DSSCs (I-V characteristic)

DSSCs preparation
Measurement and characterization
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
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