title: Three-dimensional nano-foam of few-layer graphene grown by CVD for DSSC.
abstract: We report a robust and direct route to fabricate a three-dimensional nano-foam of few-layer graphene (3D-NFG) with large area coverage via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. Pyrolysis of polymer/nickel precursor film under a hydrogen environment, simply prepared by spin-coating, leads to the creation of nano-foam in the film and the reduction process of nickel ions. Carbonized-C and the nickel nano-frame formed from the pyrolysis are used as a solid carbon source and as a catalyst for the growth of graphene under CVD conditions, respectively. We investigate the use of 3D-NFG, with the advantage of large surface area and high conductivity, as an alternative to the Pt counter electrode material in dye sensitized solar cells. The excellent properties of 3D-NFG, fabricated in this simple and direct manner, suggest a great potential for interconnected graphene networks in electronic devices and photocatalytic sensors as well as in energy-related materials.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary School of Green Energy, Low Dimensional Carbon Materials Center, and KIER-UNIST Advanced Center for Energy UNIST, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyo-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jong-Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ji-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jang