Electrophoretic deposition of reduced graphene-carbon nanotubes composite films as counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Reduced graphene (RG)-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite films are successfully fabricated by electrophoretic deposition and used as counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells. RG is obtained by microwave-assisted reduction of graphite oxide dispersion in aqueous solution using a microwave synthesis system. By the optimization of CNTs content, photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the cell with RG-CNTs counter electrode reaches a maximum of 6.17% at one sun (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW cm⁻²) which is comparable to the cell with conventional Pt counter electrode. The results suggest that the RG-CNTs composite films provide a potential feasibility for replacing conventional Pt counter electrodes for DSSCs.