title: Laser synthesized super-hydrophobic conducting carbon with broccoli-type morphology as a counter-electrode for dye sensitized solar cells.
abstract: A laser photochemical process is introduced to realize superhydrophobic conducting carbon coatings with broccoli-type hierarchical morphology for use as a metal-free counter electrode in a dye sensitized solar cell. The process involves pulsed excimer laser irradiation of a thin layer of liquid haloaromatic organic solvent o-dichlorobenzene (DCB). The coating reflects a carbon nanoparticle-self assembled and process-controlled morphology that yields solar to electric power conversion efficiency of 5.1% as opposed to 6.2% obtained with the conventional Pt-based electrode.
authors.affiliation: National Chemical Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India.
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gokhale
authors.forename: Shruti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarkar
authors.forename: Joyashish
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debgupta
authors.forename: Deodatta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shinde
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lefez
authors.forename: Abhik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jog
authors.forename: Mahendra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: More
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hannoyer
authors.forename: Satishchandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogale
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002722:Chlorobenzenes / Q000737:chemistry; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004566:Electrodes; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry; D012993:Solar Energy; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D004396:Coloring Agents; D010984:Platinum; C004726:2-dichlorobenzene; D002244:Carbon