title: A novel hierarchical Pt- and FTO-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell.
abstract: A novel hierarchical Pt- and FTO-free counter electrode (CE) for the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was prepared by spin coating the mixture of TiO2 nanoparticles and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) solution onto the glass substrate. Compared with traditional Pt/FTO CE, the cost of the new CE is dramatically reduced by the application of bilayer TiO2-PEDOT:PSS/PEDOT:PSS film and the glass substrate. The sheet resistance of this composite film is 35 Ω sq(-1) and is low enough to be used as an electrode. The surface morphologies of TiO2-PEDOT:PSS layer and modified PEDOT:PSS layer were characterized by scanning electron microscope, which shows that the former had larger surface areas than the latter. Electrochemical impedance spectra and Tafel polarization curves prove that the catalytic activity of TiO2-PEDOT:PSS/PEDOT:PSS/glass CE is higher than that of PEDOT:PSS/FTO CE and is similar to Pt/FTO CE's. This new fabricated device with TiO2-PEDOT:PSS/PEDOT:PSS/glass CE achieves a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.67%, reaching 91.39% of DSSC with Pt/FTO CE (5.11%).
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, School of Renewable Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China ; School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, School of Renewable Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China ; Suzhou Institute, North China Electric Power University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Meicheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, School of Renewable Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China ; Suzhou Institute, North China Electric Power University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, School of Renewable Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, School of Renewable Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China ; Suzhou Institute, North China Electric Power University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Zhirong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Materials Research Institute, Chongqing 400707, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Materials Research Institute, Chongqing 400707, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Zhaohuang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Composite film; Counter electrode; Dye-sensitized solar cells; PEDOT; PSS; TiO2 nanoparticles