Polythiophene/graphene composite as a highly efficient platinum-free counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

• Synthesis of polythiophene/graphene composite by liquid/liquid interfacial polymerization.
• Application of the synthesized composite as a highly efficient platinum-free counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells
• The composite counter electrode showed a conversion efficiency of 4.8% which is comparable to that of platinum electrode.

Herein we have reported preparation of polythiophene (PTh)/graphene (GR) composite by interfacial polymerization and its use as a counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The composite electrode showed excellent catalytic activity for reduction of triiodide. Both the short-circuit photocurrent density and fill factor values of the composite increased on incorporation of GR sheets. The PTh/GR composite CE based DSSCs showed an energy conversion efficiency of 4.8% which is comparable to that of conventional Pt electrode. Thus PTh/GR composite material has proven to be an effective substitute to the expensive Pt electrode for application as next generation counter electrode in DSSCs.

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