Abstract
Platinum (Pt) counter electrodes (CEs) have consistently shown excellent electrocatalytic performance and holds the record of the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). However, its use for large-scale production is limited either by high temperature required for thermal decomposition of its precursor or by wastage of the material leading to high cost or sophisticated equipment. Here, we report a novel photofabrication technique to fabricate highly transparent platinum counter electrodes by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of platinic acid (H2PtCl6.6H2O) on rigid fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and flexible indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The photofabrication technique is a facile and versatile method for the fabrication of Pt CEs for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photofabricated Pt CEs were used to fabricate bifacial DSSCs with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) attaining 7.29% for front illumination and 5.85% for rear illumination. The highest percentage ratio of the rear illumination efficiency to the front illumination efficiency (ηR) of 85.92% was recorded while the least ηR is 77.91%.
Highlights
The counter electrodes (CEs) is one of the foci interests of research toward the improvement and advancement of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)
Platinic acid precursor solution in ethylene glycol (EG) making 0.02 M were spin-coated at 2000 rpm for 30 s at a ramp rate of 500 rpm. 20 ul of the EG solution of H2PtCl6 were deposited on an area of 0.25 cm[2] before spinning
We develop a novel photofabrication technique for the fabrication of highly transparent Pt CEs with the aid of UV irradiation on rigid fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass and flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-indium doped tin oxide (ITO) substrates
Summary
Electrodeposition technique is one of such methods employed in the fabrication of Pt CEs at low temperature This method which takes place at room temperature involves three electrodes configuration with transparent conductive oxide (TCO) substrate acting as the working electrode and electrolyte material containing platinic acid solution[37,38,39]. The Pt coated electrode was washed with deionized (DI) water and ethanol before being post thermally treated at 60 °C for 30 mins Both electrodeposition and electrophoretic deposition methods have the shortcoming of large Pt loading in the electrochemical baths making them unfeasible for commercial production. Hseih et al.[19] used modified chemical reduction method to fabricate Pt CEs. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) served as surfactant, NaHBr4 as reducing agent, NaOH was used to achieve neutral platinic precursor and UV-ozone treatment was used to decompose the surfactant after deposition on FTO or ITO-PEN. Bifacial DSSCs can be deployed as building windows and integrated electronic devices[43]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
