Graphene coated alumina-modified polypyrrole composite films as an efficient Pt-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. (1st July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thuy, Chau Thi Thanh; Jung, Joo Hei; Thogiti, Suresh; Jung, Woo-Sik; Ahn, Kwang-Soon; Kim, Jae Hong
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 205(2016)
• Page Start: 170
• Page End: 177
• Publication Date: 2016-07-01
• Subjects: Dye sensitized solar cells -- counter electrode -- catalytic activity -- polypyrrole -- graphene coated alumina; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2016.04.099
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Polypyrrole (PPy) with graphene coated Al2 O3 (GCA) counter electrodes (CEs) with different levels of GCA were fabricated via a simple two-step process. The DSSCs containing the PPy/3 wt.% GCA (PPy/GCA) CE exhibited an efficiency of 7.33%, whereas the DSSC having Pt as the CE showed an efficiency of 7.57%. The results show that the PPy/GCA composite film is a potential catalyst for replacing the expensive, conventional Pt in DSSCs. Abstract: Polypyrrole (PPy) with graphene coated Al2 O3 (GCA) composite films with different levels of graphene were fabricated via a two-step process. GCA was first prepared. A dispersed solution of monomeric pyrrole and GCA was deposited on a fluorine doped tin oxide film by one-step electrodeposition and used as an electrocatalyst on the counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The DSSCs fabricated from these CEs were characterized by the current density-voltage, incident photon-to-current conversionss efficiency, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel measurements. The DSSCs containing the 3 wt.% PPy/GCA (PPy/GCA) CE exhibited an efficiency of 7.33%, whereas the DSSCs with a CE having Pt as the catalytic material showed an efficiency of 7.57%. The results show that the PPy/GCA composite film is a potential catalyst for replacing the expensive, conventional Pt in DSSCs.