High performance platinum nanofibers with interconnecting structure using in dye-sensitized solar cells

• Three-dimensional interconnected Pt nanofibers are prepared by an electrospun method.
• Pt nanofibers counter electrodes are formed by a novel film forming technique.
• Pt nanofibers have abundant catalytic surfaces for the reduction of I3−–I−.
• The efficiency of DSSC with Pt nanofibers counter electrode reaches 9.31%.

Platinum nanofibers (PtNFs) with interconnecting structure are prepared by a simple electrospun method and novel film forming technique, which are used as the counter electrode (CE) materials for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Electron microscope images demonstrate that PtNFs are constituted by Pt nanoparticles. Cyclic voltammetry measurements indicate that PtNF CE has an excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide to iodide. DSSC based on PtNF CE achieves an enhanced photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 9.31% compared to that of DSSC based on Pt CE (7.32%) prepared by the thermal decomposition, owing to the three-dimensional interconnecting nanostructure has abundant catalytic surfaces, large contact area with the electrolyte, and lots of electronic transmission channels. DSSC efficiency based on PtNF CE remains 90.08% after continuous scanning 1000 s under an open system without any sealing in ambient atmosphere, and 83.19% of the efficiency is remained after 1000 h under a strictly packaging for the device application.

Platinum nanofibers with three-dimensional interconnected nanostructure are prepared by using a simple electrospun method, which have abundant catalytic surfaces, good contact with the electrolyte, and a large number of electronic transmission channels for the reduction of triiodide to iodide in the dye-sensitized solar cell.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide