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Liquid-phase exfoliated graphite-nanosheets as counter electrode for enhanced performance of cost-effective DSSCs

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Abstract

Graphite nanosheets (G_NS)-coated FTO thin film is taken as counter electrode. Normally, precious metal like platinum (Pt) is considered as counter electrode in most of work. Cost wise, G_NS is cheaper than (Pt) and also possess improved electro catalytic properties, as G-NSs are porous and has larger surface area. For the photoanode, hydrothermally synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles-coated FTO glass plates sensitized with Eosin Y (EY) dye is used in the present work. In order to analyze the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC), I-V characteristics of the assembled solar cells (FTO/TiO2 + EY/Electrolyte/G_NS CE) with a light source of 100 mW/cm2 is studied. For comparison, I-V measurement is carried out for Pt CE, G CE, and G_NS CE also. The results show that the photo conversion efficiency (η) for Pt CE 0.44% and for G CE 0.77% and for the cost-effective G_NSCE gives maximum value of 0.86% with LiClO4 electrolyte. We conclude that G_NS CE-based cell gives better performance than the Pt and G CE. Both Li- and iodine-based electrolytes are used for the investigation, and we could observe higher efficiency with Li-based electrolyte.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Management of Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai-15, India, for providing the research environment and facilities to carry out the experimental work.

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  1. Nanomaterials Lab, Department of Physics, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625015, India

    B. Karuppasamy, B. Shenbagabalakrishnan & V. Gayathri

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  1. B. Karuppasamy
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  3. V. Gayathri
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Karuppasamy, B., Shenbagabalakrishnan, B. & Gayathri, V. Liquid-phase exfoliated graphite-nanosheets as counter electrode for enhanced performance of cost-effective DSSCs. J Solid State Electrochem 27, 1001–1009 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-023-05377-1

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