Pt/FTO counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells prepared by sputtering-displacement

Abstract

A Pt/FTO electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was prepared by the sputtering (Cu) - displacement (Pt) (SD) method on a conductive glass (FTO) substrate (SD-Pt/FTO). Morphological characterization revealed that the dispersion of Pt particles on the SD-Pt/FTO electrode was significantly improved in comparison with the PY-Pt/FTO electrode prepared by the pyrolysis of Pt salts (PY). Optical current-voltage curves showed that the photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSC with a SD-Pt/FTO counter electrode increased by 16.5% relative to that with a PY-Pt/FTO counter electrode. The improvement of DSSC performance with the SD-Pt/FTO electrode is due to its lower electric resistance, and good catalysis resulting from the improved dispersion of Pt particles in the SD process compared with the PY process. © Editorial office of Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica.