title: Efficient platinum-free counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cell applications.
abstract: Nanoporous layers of poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT) were fabricated by electrical-field-assisted growth using hydrophobic ionic liquids as the growing medium. A series of PProDoT layers was prepared with three different ionic liquids to control the microstructure and electrochemical properties of the resulting dye-sensitized solar cells, which were highly efficient and showed a power conversion efficiency of >9% under different sunlight intensities. The current-voltage characteristics of the counter electrodes varied depending on the ionic liquids used in the synthesis of PProDOT. The most hydrophobic ionic liquids exhibited high catalytic properties, thus resulting in high power conversion efficiency and allowing the fabrication of platinum-free, stable, flexible, and cost-effective dye-sensitized solar cells.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany. ahmad@mpip-mainz.mpg.de
authors.forename: Shahzada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Jun-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yum
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Mohammad K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nazeeruddin
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grätzel
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016062:Porosity; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D011725:Pyridines; C531278:(4-(3-phenylpropyl)pyridine)