Electrodeposited Pt for cost-efficient and flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

Pt electrodes were prepared by direct and pulse current electrodeposition for use as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope images confirmed the formation of uniform Pt nanoclusters of ∼40 nm composed of 3 nm nanoparticles, when the pulse current electrodeposition method was used, as opposed to the dendritic growth of Pt by the results from direct current electrodeposition. By applying pulse electrodeposited Pt which has a 1.86 times higher surface area compared to direct current electrodeposited Pt, short-circuit current and conversion efficiency were increased from 10.34 to 14.11 mA/cm2 and from 3.68 to 5.03%, respectively. In addition, a flexible solar cell with a pulse current electrodeposited Pt counter electrode with a conversion efficiency of 0.86% was demonstrated.