A composite poly(3,3-diethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno-[3,4-b][1,4]-dioxepine) and Pt film as a counter electrode catalyst in dye-sensitized solar cells

A composite poly(3,3-diethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno-[3,4-b][1,4]-dioxepine) and platinum (PProDOT-Et2/Pt) film was prepared for using as a counter electrode (CE) catalyst in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Four composite films were prepared by electropolymerization of ProDOT-Et2 on indium tin oxide (ITO) conducting glass, followed by Pt sputtering for 10, 30, 120, and 720 s. The Pt content in the composite film was verified by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The composite films possessed three-dimensional (3D) porous structures, as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The DSSC with the composite film that was subject to 10 s of Pt deposition (PProDOT-Et2/Pt-10 s) exhibited the highest solar to electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 6.68%, while the cells with the bare polymer film (PProDOT-Et2) and Pt that was sputtered for 720 s (s-Pt-720 s) demonstrated efficiencies of 4.76% and 6.43%, respectively. The cell photovoltaic parameters were substantiated through dark current, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses. Incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) curves were used to explain the cell photocurrent behaviors.

► PProDOT-Et2/Pt composite film provides both high active area and catalytic activity.
► The use of Pt would be reduced exponentially by incorporating PProDOT-Et2.
► The cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectra were used in this work.