Platinum leaf counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

In this study, a platinum (Pt) leaf was introduced as a counter electrode (CE) with thickness of 100 nm in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Fundamental characteristics were investigated and compared with Pt leaf, Pt plate, and sputtered-Pt as the CEs. The power conversion efficiencies of DSCs with a Pt leaf as the CEs were as high as 4.78%, which is higher to those of DSCs with Pt plate and sputtered-Pt as the CEs (4.11% and 4.40%, respectively). In contrast to other CEs, Pt leaf features a large surface area. This implies that Pt leaf serves as an active CE and can be a good candidate for DSCs.