Four-point Probe Test Research Articles

Polyglycerol Sebacate/polycaprolactone/reduced graphene oxide composite scaffold for myocardial tissue engineering

The aim of this research was to fabricate and evaluate polyglycerol sebacate/polycaprolactone/reduced graphene oxide (PGS-PCL-RGO) composite scaffolds for myocardial tissue engineering. Polyglycerol sebacate polymer was synthesized using glycerol and sebacic acid prepolymers, confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Six PGS-PCL-RGO composite scaffolds (S1-S6) with various weight ratios were prepared in chloroform (CF) and acetone (Ace) solvents at 8 CF:2Ace and 9 CF:1Ace volume ratios, using the electrospinning method at a rate of 1 ml/h and a voltage of 18 kV. The scaffolds' chemical composition and microstructure were characterized by FTIR, XRD, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Further investigations included tensile testing, contact angle testing, four-point probe testing for electrical conductivity, degradation testing, and cytotoxicity testing (MTT). The results showed that adding 2%wt RGO to the composite scaffold decreased fiber diameter and degradation rate, while increasing electrical conductivity and ductility. The 33%PGS-65%PCL-2%RGO (S3) composite scaffold exhibited the lowest degradation rate (23.87 % over 60 days) and the highest electrical conductivity (51E-3 S/m). Mechanical evaluations revealed an elastic modulus of 2.46 MPa and elongation of 62.43 %, aligning closely with the heart muscle's elastomeric properties. The contact angle test indicated that the scaffold was hydrophilic, with a water contact angle of 61 ± 2°. Additionally, the cell toxicity test confirmed that scaffolds containing RGO were non-toxic and supported good cell viability. In conclusion, the 33%PGS-65%PCL-2%RGO composite scaffold exhibits mechanical and structural properties similar to heart tissue, making it an ideal candidate for myocardial tissue engineering.

Al-Mg co-doped TiO2 thin film as a promising ETL for perovskite solar cells: An experimental and DFT investigation

Solar cells offer a potential solution to the energy crisis, and perovskite solar cells are the latest frontrunner. However, low electrical conductivity of TiO2 ETL serves as a bottleneck to its efficiency. In this study, Al-Mg co-doped anatase thin films are prepared by one-step spin coating method and then characterized to tackle this problem. XRD results show that doping leads to smaller crystallite size and decreased interplanar spacing, but increases the lattice strain and dislocation density. AFM images reveal that Al-Mg co-doping increases surface roughness. Surface morphology of the co-doped film is good, covering the whole substrate uniformly without any pinholes. XPS results ensure that the desired composition is achieved. UV–vis spectroscopy data show that optical bandgap increases with Al-Mg co-doping, leading to the highest bandgap for Ti0.87Mg0.1Al0.03O2, which also has the highest transmittance peak, reaching 90 % in the visible region. Urbach energies are also calculated to get a better estimate of the effective bandgaps. Band edge positions are calculated using Mulliken’s electronegativity, demonstrating improved band alignment due to Al-Mg co-doping. The bandgap trend is further corroborated with DFT + U simulations, which show that calculated bandgaps match the experimentally obtained optical bandgaps. Additionally, density of states reveal that Ti 3d orbital dominates the conduction band and O 2p orbital dominates the valence band, with hybridization taking place between different orbitals. Four-point probe test demonstrates that Al-Mg co-doping leads to a consistent decrease in sheet resistance of the thin film. Better band alignment and higher visible light transmittance combined with enhanced conductivity indicate that Al-Mg co-doped anatase thin film has high potential as an ETL for perovskite solar cells.

Performance of Polyaniline Thin Film as a Functional Material of Acid Vapor Sensors

Polyaniline (PANI) is a conductive polymer that can be produced by the electrodeposition process. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the performance of PANI sensors on hydrochloric acid (HCl) and acetic acid (CH3COOH) vapor using a scan rate of 100 mV/s and ten cycles, a thin PANI layer was created on the surface of the ITO substrate. The PANI spectroscopic test results before and after CH3COOH vapor exposure revealed no differences and remained within the PANI functional group range. A four-point probe (FPP) test was performed to evaluate the sensing performance of the PANI thin film against analyte gas. The results of recovery time, response time, and sensitivity tended to increase as analyte concentration increased. The quickest CH3COOH sensing (1 ppm) has a reaction time of 29.7 seconds, a recovery time of 21.9 seconds, and a sensitivity of 5.11%. The greatest CH3COOH sensing (10 ppm) resulted in a reaction time of 50.3 seconds, a recovery time of 39.7 seconds, and a sensitivity of 13.64%. The reaction time for the lowest HCl sensing (1 ppm) was 42.6 s, the recovery time was 32.4 s, and the sensitivity was 7.82%. The greatest level of CH3COOH sensing (10 ppm) resulted in a response time of 60.6 s, a recovery time of 55.3 s, and a sensitivity of 16.31%. As a result, the PANI thin film is a functional material for acid gas sensors.

Development of an Automated Hall Effect Experimentation Method for the Electrical Characterization of Thin Films

There has been drastic growth in the microelectronics industry in the recent past. The performance of these materials is influenced by their structural, electrical, and optical properties among others, depending on their applications. Therefore, the need to conduct measurements of the semiconductor characteristics precisely, quickly, and conveniently cannot be overstated. Some of the desirable features of measurements include usability, accuracy, resolution, repeatability, and consistency which cannot be assured with manually operated systems. This study strived to design and interface an automated computer-aided four-point probe test equipment that characterizes materials to determine their electrical properties. A four-point probe head, an electromagnet, NI Keithley model 6220 Precision current source, model 7001 switch, model 2182A Nanovoltmeter, and model 7065 Hall Effect card instruments were interfaced with the NI LabVIEW program running in a computer through a GPIB hub to a PC USB for its full control. The four-probe head was utilized to probe the samples with a square symmetry that was adopted for the measurement of the semiconductor properties. Reliability tests were conducted on a standard P-type Germanium sample. The collected data was within 0.32% of the expected results. This work forms a basis for automating similar systems that were inherently designed to be operated manually. Keywords: Automated Hall Effect, manually operated systems, Hall angle, thin films, string manipulation routines.

Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabric using conductive polyaniline

In this study, pure polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric was coated with polyaniline (PANI) doped with hydrochloric acid (HCl) by in situ chemical oxidation polymerization to form conductive PET/PANIHCl fabric. The surface morphology, chemical, structural, and electrical conductivity of the conductive PET/PANIHCl fabric are examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a four-point probe, respectively. FE-SEM images showed that PANIHCl was successfully coated on the PET fabric. According to the four-point probe test, the electrical conductivity of pure PET and PET/PANIHCl fabrics were [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] S/cm, respectively. The electrical conductivity of PET/PANIHCl fabric is about 106 higher than that of pure PET fabric. The conductive PET/PANIHCl fabric can be used as antistatic and electrostatic discharge material, and even anti-electromagnetic interference material.

Approach to the Modification of Carbon-Based Composite Conductive Ink for Silicone Keypads

Carbon-based composite conductive ink (3CI) has some challenges to its properties. Here, combined with the application of 3CI on silicon keypads, a series of studies on the electrical, mechanical and thermal performance of 3CI has been conducted by adding specific concentrations of silver powder, silica powder and SiO2@Ag core-shell particles. The properties of the modified 3CI were characterized by using the four-point probe tester, scanning electron microscope, Rockwell hardness tester, cross-cut tester and laser thermal conductivity analyzer. The experimental results revealed that by adding silver powder with a particle size of 20 microns equivalent to 12% by weight of the 3CI, ink resistance decreased by 76%, from 8.44 kΩ/□ to 2.03 kΩ/□. Meanwhile, adding silica can increase the ink’s tensile strength and thermal diffusivity while improving the adhesion of the 3CI on the silicone rubber. It was worth noting that when the particle size of the SiO2@Ag core-shell particle was smaller than that of the added silver powder, the resistance of the 3CI was further reduced. Finally, a modified 3CI with the adhesion of 4B, a conductivity of about1 kΩ/□, a hardness of 232 HV0.5, and a thermal diffusivity of 0.217 cm2s−1 was achieved experimentally, which provided an experimental basis for the modified 3CI suitable for silicone keypads.

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF BRASS BY Au-ION IMPLANTATION: SURFACE ANALYSIS

Brass has been tested for the modification in its structural, electrical properties as well as hardness using Au-ion implantation. Four ion doses were devised as follows: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] ions/cm2. SRIM/TRIM software helped to predict Au-ion distribution inside the brass. The alloy was then characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), microhardness, four-point probe testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The microstructure parameters from XRD analysis were determined and used for the calculation of lattice parameter, crystallite size, microstrain and dislocation density. The microhardness value was observed to be changed from 106[Formula: see text]HV to 119[Formula: see text]HV with the maximum increase as 12.26%. A noticeable decrease occurred in the crystallite size from 44[Formula: see text]nm to 34[Formula: see text]nm for the plane (2 2 0) due to increase in dislocation density, and the corresponding change in ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] is also noted. The electrical conductivity is overall found to be decreased, whereas the [Formula: see text]-spacing values fluctuated with ion dose. SEM analysis helped observing the microstructural changes, which occurred in the form of particulates and defects, namely pores, voids, cavities and craters. The relationships between microstructure and these properties are important for developing new materials for future prospects.

Deposition of Nb-Si-C Thin Films by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

Nb-Si-C thin films were deposited onto Si(001) substrates by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering using individual Nb, Si, and C targets. The effects of varying the sputtering power on the phase composition of the new thin films were studied. The structure, chemical components, and morphology of the thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The experimental results and first-principles calculations indicate that a new MAX phase (Nb4SiC3) can be synthesized at a sputtering power of 65 W. The four-point probe test showed that the resistivity of the film containing Nb4SiC3 phase was 0.99 μΩ·m. A nano-indentation test showed that the hardness of the film containing Nb4SiC3 phase was 15 GPa, and the elastic modulus was 200 GPa.

Production and characterization of functionally graded NiTi shape memory alloys by Joule effect

Abstract Localized heat treatments via Joule effect were performed on cold-drawn NiTi strips to produce a functionally graded material (FGM). Three zones where locally heat treated at 300, 350, and 400 °C for 10 min followed by air cooling. Multiscale and multiphenomena characterization of the obtained FGM was performed through infrared temperature testing, four-point probe and eddy current testing, mechanical testing and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The effect of these localized heat treatments is clearly observed by different techniques. The use of these short and localized heat treatments avoids the need of highly expensive manufacturing routes typically used to obtain the same effect on NiTi shape memory alloys, thus opening new possibilities for processing these advanced engineering alloys.

Characterization of mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of Ag nanoparticle-reinforced Al6061 alloy

In this paper, the detailed characterization of mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of Ag nanoparticle-reinforced Al6061 alloy was studied. Four composites with Al6061 alloys and different mass percentages (3%, 6%, 9% and 12%) of Ag nanoparticles were processed by stir casting method. The chemical analysis was used to confirm the elemental composition. The microstructural examination was carried out using optical microscopy. The phase analysis of the samples was studied using X-ray diffraction technique. The density and hardness were measured as per ASTM standards. Four-point probe tester and differential scanning calorimetry were used to measure the electrical conductivity and specific heat. In addition, the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity were measured using laser flash method. The results reveal the presence of Ag nanoparticles can significantly enhance the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties.

Effect of Mo substitution for Nb on the glass-forming ability, magnetic properties, and electrical resistivity in Fe80(Nb1–xMox)5B15 (x=0–0.75) amorphous ribbons

In this work, Fe80(Nb1–xMox)5B15 (x = 0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, 0.60, and 0.75) amorphous ribbons have been fabricated by the melt-spinning method. The effects of the substitution of Nb by Mo on the glass-forming ability (GFA), magnetic properties, and electrical resistivity in the Fe80(Nb1–xMox)5B15 alloys were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and a four-point probe tester. The partial replacement of Nb by Mo decreases thermal stability and enhances the GFA of Fe-Nb-Mo-B alloys. With the increase of Mo content, the GFA of the Fe-Nb-Mo-B alloys is obviously enhanced, while their thermal stability first increases and then decreases. The addition of Mo significantly alters the crystallization process of the Fe-Nb-Mo-B alloys from a single exothermic peak to a complex multi-peak. VSM results indicate that Mo addition increases the saturation magnetization without a significant increase of coercivity. The electrical resistivity increases steadily from 116 μΩ cm for alloys with x = 0 to 150 μΩ cm for alloys with x = 0.75. The Fe80(Nb1–xMox)5B15 alloys exhibit excellent soft magnetic properties, large GFA values, and high electrical resistivity, and are promising new ferromagnetic alloys for use in electronic industries.

Study and analysis of the morphological, elemental and electrical properties of phosphorus doped monocrystalline silicon solar cell

In this study, the impact of diffusion time on monocrystalline silicon solar cell has been analysed morphologically, elementally, and electrically by adjusting diffusion time to establish optimized properties for high-efficiency. P-type raw wafers were prepared for diffusion following cleaning and wet etching operation. POCl3 diffusion was done by varying diffusion time with a constant flow rate of process gases. The morphological and elemental studies were carried out with scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) respectively. Four-point probe test and Hall Effect measurement were used for studying the electrical characteristics (sheet resistance, resistivity, conductivity, and bulk concentration). From SEM result analysis, noticeable structural damages were found with the increase of doping time. Surface reflectance measurement (SRM) also supported the morphological distortion. Phosphorus, oxygen, silicon, and boron were traced by EDX analysis. The formation of phosphosilicate glass (PSG), as well as the depth of emitter, has been confirmed from the elemental analysis. The emitter length was varied from 2.5 μm to 9 μm. 5 min doped sample showed minimum surface deformation with maximum light absorbance. An acceptable sheet resistance with a compatible conductivity, mobility, and bulk concentration are also found for 5 min diffusion, which could potentially lead to high-efficient solar cell fabrication.

Development of high temperature electrical conductive polymeric nanocomposite films for aerospace applications

In this investigation, an effort has been made to develop an electrically conductive high performance thermoplastic polyetherimide (PEI) nanocomposite film by reinforcing carbon nano fibers (CNF). PEI reinforced with silver coated CNF nanocomposite films have been processed using a solution casting technique. The electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite films has been characterized using four-point probe test. The results reveal that there is a significant increase in the electrical conductivity of the PEI/Ag coated CNF nanocomposite film when compared to that of unfilled PEI. Tensile test results showed that there is a marginal improvement in the Ag coated CNF/PEI nanocomposite when compared to unfilled PEI films. Thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis shows that degradation properties of the Ag-coated CNF filled nanocomposite increases. Spectroscopical analysis spectrum confirms the reinforcing effectiveness of Ag-coated CNF in the PEI matrix. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs validated the dispersion of uncoated and coated CNF in the PEI matrix.

Synthesis and Characterization of Transparent Conducting Film from Abaca Hybrid 7 Cellulose Acetate Blend and Polyaniline

This study dealt with the synthesis and characterization of thin transparent conducting films (TCF) from cellulose acetate (CA) blend and polyaniline (PANI). CA was produced from the pulp of abaca hybrid 7. CA-PANI films with different PANI loadings (0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.50, 1.0 and 2.0%) were produced using solvent casting method. Chemical transformations were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The conductivity was measured using the Four-Point Probe Test. Morphological characterization was done using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The transparency of the films was determined using UV-Vis Spectroscopy. FTIR spectra proved the embedment of PANI in the CA matrix. It was found that increasing the PANI loading increases the conductivity of the films but up to a certain limit. The highest average conductivity at 2.0264 x 10-5 S/m was observed in CA-PANI films with 0.50% PANI loading. SEM images revealed that conductivity is a function of PANI loading by forming networks. Further addition of PANI (1.0 and 2.0%) resulted to decreased conductivity due to agglomeration. Transparency, on the other hand, is negatively affected by PANI loading.

Assessment of self-sensing capability of Carbon Black Engineered Cementitious Composites

The protection and health monitoring of degraded concrete infrastructure required a multifunctional material which possessing good damage tolerance, whilst providing a self-sensing capacity that designed to specifically diagnose cracking. Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) presents superb tensile ductility and pseudo strain-hardening property. In this paper, a type of multifunctional ECC incorporating Carbon Black (CB) nano-particles and Air Entraining Agent (AEA) to decrease the bulk resistivity while increasing the tensile strain capacity is studied. The effect of CB particles on the electrical response of ECC, HFA-ECC (high fly ash ECC) and CB-ECC under direct tension was investigated experimentally by four-point probe test. The experimental results showed that the bulk resistivity of all specimens increased with the crack propagation, and the increase ratio in inelastic phase was much higher than that in elastic phase. The Gauge Factor (GF) in the strain-hardening stage was calculated by using the change in bulk resistivity and tensile strain, and the relationship between GF and crack width was also investigated. The combination of CB and AEA obtained the highest sensing ability from elastic stage to first cracking stage, which can determine whether the internal microcracks are generated by the change of the bulk resistivity.

Effect of deposition time on structural, electrical and optical properties of Aluminium doped ZnO thin films by RF magnetron sputtering

Transparent conducting aluminium doped ZnO (AZO) thin films were deposited on glass substrates by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering at 200 °C substrate temperature, 150 W of power with various deposition times from 10 minutes to 90 minutes and maintaining working pressure of 2 × 10-3 mbar and 100 mm electrode distance. The structural, electrical and optical properties were studied using XRD, TEM, UV-VIS-NIR Spectrophotometer and four-point probe tester. The (002) diffraction peak of AZO thin films was obtained at Braggs angle of 34.40 which exhibited the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO with c-axis orientation. Electrical resistivity of 1.9 x 10-3 Ω cm and average optical transmittance of 89.7 % in the visible region was obtained for the deposition time of 10 minutes. The optical band gap decreased from 3.48 to 3.013 eV with increase in deposition time.

Peculiarities of Injection Molding Conducting Composites

The investigations in this study focused on the characteristic of feedstock in an effort to understand the mechanism of injection molded in composite material. A composite, which has 75% wt. filler, consist of graphite (G), carbon black (CB) and polypropylene copolymer (PP). Twin-screw co-rotating extruder used for mixing materials. The conductivity of the molded parts measured using a four-point probe test procedure. The results showed that the injection molding conducting composites, which aggregated into larger clusters, tended to disperse unevenly into the PP, resulting in fewer particle-particle contacts and, consequently, a lower-conductivity composite in some part of the molded.

The Effect of Various Precursors and Solvents on the Characteristics of Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Conducting Glass Fabricated by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis

Transparent conductive oxide (TCO) glass is one of most important components in dyesensitized solar cell (DSSC) device. In addition to its high electrical conductivity, transparency is another important requirement that must be achieved in fabricating TCO. One TCO film is fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), which can be considered as the most promising substitution for indium-doped tin oxide (ITO), since the latter is very expensive. However, the fabrication techniques for TCO film need to be carefully selected; the synthesis parameters must be properly optimized to provide the desired properties. In this work, FTO glass has been fabricated by the ultrasonic spray pyrolisis technique with different precursors, i.e. tin (II) chloride dihydrate (SnCl2.2H2O) and anhydrous tin (IV) chloride (SnCl4), as well as different solvents, i.e. ethanol and methanol. For both conditions, ammonium fluoride (NH4F) was used as the doping compound. The resulting thin films were characterized by use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and a four-point probe test. The results of the investigation show that the highest transmittance of 88.3 persen and the lowest electrical resistivity of 8.44×10-5 Ω.cm were obtained with the FTO glass processed with 20 minutes of spray pyrolysis deposition and 300oC substrate heating, using SnCl4 as the precursor and methanol as the solvent. It can be concluded that TCO fabrication with tin chloride precursors and ammonium fluoride doping using ultrasonic spray pyrolisis can be considered as a simple and low cost method, as well as a breakthrough in manufacturing conductive and transparent glass. International Journal of Technology (2017) 7: 1336-1344

The preparation and phase transformation characteristics of γ-Ti3O5 thin film

The high purity γ-Ti3O5 thin films deposited on single-crystal SiO2 substrates are firstly prepared via sol–gel method combined with hydrogen reduction processing. In this reported work, the influences of reduction of temperature, hydrogen flow rate and holding time on the reduced phases are investigated. The as-prepared materials are characterized by glancing incident angle X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy. Based on the results of single factor and orthogonal tests, the optimum condition for synthesizing high purity Ti3O5 thin films are as follows: the hydrogen gas flow rate is 0.8 L min−1, the reduction temperature is 1150 °C and the holding time is 1 h. Temperature dependence of PXRD patterns and electrical conductivity (σ) variation demonstrates that the temperature of phase transition between monoclinic I2/c crystal structure of γ-Ti3O5 thin film and monoclinic P2/a crystal structure of δ-Ti3O5 thin film was 225 K. The four-point probe test shows that the room-temperature conductivity of γ-Ti3O5 thin film is 202.1 S m−1.

Preparation of Hydrophilic Carbon Nano-Particles and Its Application to the Counter Electrodes of DSSCs

Hydrophilic carbon nano-particles have been prepared from a synthesized graphite block using electro-oxidation method in pure water. They are sub-micro meter in diameter depending on the electrolysis condition. They are used as the activator of lead-acid batteries and solid lubricants in non-oily lubricants as already reported at PRiME2012. In this presentation, we will introduce the application to the counter electrodes (CEs) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) instead of Pt. We will report the preparation method, the results in characterization, and applications of hydrophilic carbon nano-particles especially on CEs in DSSCs. The weight % of solid carbonous material is 0.4 by the conventional electrolysis method around 10 V DC for 45 days. Increasing in the ratio of the graphite to the cell volume, the electrolysis time decreased and the weight % becomes 0.6 within 3 weeks. By XRD analysis, the dried powder of the produced material consists of mellitic acid (benzenehexacarboxylic acid) and graphite. CE was prepared by doctor blading a mixture of hydrophilic carbon (HC) nano-particles with TiO2 colloids on a FTO glass substrate. Thereafter, HC-CE was characterized using X-ray diffraction, profilometry, four-point probe testing, and CV. A 2 \U0001d707m thick HC-CE revealed a comparable catalytic activity to that of the Pt electrode under the same experimental conditions. A DSSC based on HC-CE was analyzed and showed \U0001d43dsc of 6.87 mA/cm2 close to that of DSSC with Pt-CE (7.0 mA/cm2). More importantly, DSSC based on HC-CE yielded a power-conversion efficiency (\U0001d702) of 2.93% under AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW/cm2), which was comparable to that of DSSC based on conventional Pt-CE.Hydrophilic carbon nano-particles have been prepared from a synthesized graphite block using electro-oxidation method in pure water. They are sub-micro meter in diameter depending on the electrolysis condition. They are used as the activator of lead-acid batteries and solid lubricants in non-oily lubricants as already reported at PRiME2012. In this presentation, we will introduce the application to the counter electrodes (CEs) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) instead of Pt. We will report the preparation method, the results in characterization, and applications of hydrophilic carbon nano-particles especially on CEs in DSSCs. The weight % of solid carbonous material is 0.4 by the conventional electrolysis method around 10 V DC for 45 days. Increasing in the ratio of the graphite to the cell volume, the electrolysis time decreased and the weight % becomes 0.6 within 3 weeks. By XRD analysis, the dried powder of the produced material consists of mellitic acid (benzenehexacarboxylic acid) and graphite. CE was prepared by doctor blading a hydrophilic carbon (HC) nano-particle on a FTO glass substrate. Thereafter, HC-CE was characterized using X-ray diffraction, profilometry, four-point probe testing, and CV. A 2 \U0001d707m thick HC-CE revealed a comparable catalytic activity to that of the Pt electrode under the same experimental conditions. A DSSC based on HC-CE was analyzed and showed \U0001d43dsc of 6.87 mA/cm2 close to that of DSSC with Pt-CE (7.0 mA/cm2). More importantly, DSSC based on HC-CE yielded a power-conversion efficiency (\U0001d702) of 2.93% under AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW/cm2), which was comparable to that of DSSC based on conventional Pt-CE.