Pt and TCO free hybrid bilayer silver nanowire–graphene counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Here we report a novel transparent conductive oxide (TCO) and Pt free silver nanowire and graphene nanoplatelet (AgNW–GNP) based hybrid counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) having appreciable photovoltaic performances compared to reference Pt–FTO based DSSCs. Simple solution processed bilayer AgNW–GNP hybrid CEs were prepared to investigate its applicability in DSSCs based on their electrocatalytic and charge transport properties. DSSCs prepared with AgNW–GNP hybrid CEs containing the GNP loading of 0.88μg/cm2 showed the photoconversion efficiency of 1.61±0.13% which is comparable with that of 1.87±0.15% made of standard Pt–FTO CEs.