Solution-Processed Graphene Composite Films as Freestanding Platinum-Free Counter Electrodes for Bendable Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

• Published in: Chinese journal of chemistry 2016-01, Vol.34 (1), p.59-66
• Main Authors: Zhou, Qinqin, Chen, Shan, Zhang, Miao, Wang, Liduo, Li, Yingru, Shi, Gaoquan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: counter electrode; dye sensitized solar cell; Electrodes; graphene; Photovoltaic cells; polymers; Solar energy; TiO2纳米管; 复合膜; 弯曲; 染料敏化太阳能电池; 氧化石墨; 溶液处理; 透明导电氧化物; 铂电极
• ISSN: 1001-604X; 1614-7065
• DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.201500609

Sulfuric acid-treated poly（3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene）：poly（styrenesulfonate）/less-defective reduced graphene oxide （ST-PEDOT：PSS/L-rGO） composite films were prepared via a solution-processing route and used as the counter electrodes of dye sensitized solar cells （DSSCs）. These platinum （Pt）- and transparent conductive oxide （TCO）-free counter electrodes exhibited strong catalytic activity and excellent flexibility, showing no obvious change in their sheet resistances after 10000 cycles of bending. The integrated quasi-solid-state DSSC device with a TiO2 nanotube/Ti mesh photoanode and a ST-PEDOT：PSS/L-rGO counter electrode exhibited an energy conversion efficiency （~/） of about 1.8%. It also displayed an excellent mechanical stability and durability after bending for 1000 cycles at a small curvature radius of 10 mm. The high flexibility, low cost and efficient catalytic activity make ST-PEDOT：PSS/L-rGO composite films promising counter electrodes for flexible DSSCs.