Platinum coated counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated by pulsed electrodeposition—Correlation of nanostructure, catalytic activity and optical properties

High performance counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) were produced by simple pulsed-current electrochemical deposition (PED) methods. The influence of the electrochemical deposition conditions on the nanostructure of the deposited platinum layer were systematically studied and correlated with their catalytic and optical properties. Ultrathin (<1 nm) platinum coatings with high catalytic activity toward the reduction of triiodide can be produced within 2.3 s, featuring low transfer resistances of <8 Ω cm2 and high optical transparencies of >80%. This fast low-temperature coating process is compatible with polymer substrates and therefore easily applicable to low-cost, high-throughput roll-to-roll fabrication processes for flexible DSCs.