Article (Scientific journals)
Morphological and opto-electrical properties of solution deposited Platinum counter electrode for low cost dye sensitized solar cells
Thalluri, Venkata Visveswara Gopala Kris; Décultot, Marc; Henrist, Catherine et al.
2013In Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 15, p. 19799-19806
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Keywords :
Dye sensitized solar cells; Platinum counter electrode; low cost
Abstract :
[en] Although Platinum (Pt) is a rare and very expensive material, Pt counter electrodes are still very commonly used for reaching high efficiencies in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The use of alternative cheaper catalyst materials did not yet yield to equivalent efficiencies. In this work, we tried to understand how to reduce the amount of deposited Pt-material and simultaneously to deliver higher DSC performances. We systematically compared the properties of Pt-counter electrodes prepared by simple solution deposition methods such as spray-coating, dip-coating, brushing with reference to the Pt-electrodes prepared by sputtering onto fluorine doped-tin oxides (FTOs). The morphological and structural characterizations of the deposited Pt-layers were performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The composition of Pt-material was quantified by using SEM electron dispersive x-ray (EDX) mapping measurements are further compared with optical transmission measurements. Also contact angle and sheet resistance measurements were performed. By taking Pt-layers composition, morphology and structural factors into account 9.16% efficient N3 dye based DSCs were assembled. The DSCs were subjected to various opto-electrical characterization techniques like current-voltage (I-V), external quantum efficiency (EQE), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and transient photo voltage (TPV) measurements. The obtained experimental data suggest that the Pt counter electrodes prepared by solution deposition methods can also reach to high DSC device performances with a consumption of very less amount of Pt material compared with sputtered Pt-layers. This process also proves that higher DSC performances are not limited to the usage of sputtered Pt-layer as counter electrode.
Disciplines :
Chemistry
Author, co-author :
Thalluri, Venkata Visveswara Gopala Kris ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > LCIS - GreenMAT
Décultot, Marc ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Optique - Hololab
Henrist, Catherine ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > LCIS - GreenMAT
Dewalque, Jennifer  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > LCIS - GreenMAT
Colson, Pierre  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > LCIS - GreenMAT
Habraken, Serge ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Optique - Hololab
Spoltore, Donato;  Universiteit Hasselt - UH > IMO
Manca, Jean;  Universiteit Hasselt - UH > IMEC-IMOMEC
Cloots, Rudi ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > LCIS - GreenMAT
Language :
English
Title :
Morphological and opto-electrical properties of solution deposited Platinum counter electrode for low cost dye sensitized solar cells
Publication date :
2013
Journal title :
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
ISSN :
1463-9076
eISSN :
1463-9084
Publisher :
Royal Society of Chemistry, United Kingdom
Volume :
15
Pages :
19799-19806
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 26 September 2013

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