Facile Photochemical Synthesis
of Graphene-Pt Nanoparticle
Composite for Counter Electrode in Dye Sensitized Solar Cell
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Abstract
A low temperature route to synthesize graphene oxide–Pt
nanoparticle hybrid composite by light assisted spontaneous coreduction
of graphene oxide and chloroplatinic acid without reducing agent is
demonstrated. Analysis indicates the importance of light as energy
provider and ethanol as hole scavenger in the formation of small Pt
nanoparticles (∼3 nm) on graphene oxide as well as graphene
oxide reduction. Spray coating was used to deposit the hybrid material
as a counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs). An efficiency
of 6.77% for the hybrid graphene counter electrode has been obtained,
higher than the control device made by low temperature sputtered Pt
as counter electrode. Compatibility of the hybrid material with flexible
plastic substrates was demonstrated yielding DSCs of an efficiency
of 4.05%