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Improved catalytic activity of Pt/rGO counter electrode in In2O3-based DSSC

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Abstract

A platinum/reduced graphene oxide (Pt/rGO) nanocomposite acting as a counter electrode (CE) was fabricated using a chemical bath deposition method for In2O3-based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) via sol-gel technique. The report analyzes the morphological and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the annealing Pt/rGO films at 350, 400, and 450 °C. Micrograph images obtained from field emission scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the annealed films are highly porous. The energy-dispersive X-ray results show that the carbon atoms were homogeneously distributed on the film annealed at 400 °C. A good photovoltaic performance was exhibited with high photocurrent density of 8.1 mA cm−2 and power conversion efficiency (η) of 1.68 % at the Pt/rGO CE annealed at 400 °C. The employed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis quantifies that the Pt/rGO films annealed at 400 °C provide more efficient charge transfer with the lowest effective recombination rate and high electron life time, hence improving the performance of Pt/rGO CE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electrical, Electronic, and Systems Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia

    Savisha Mahalingam & Huda Abdullah

  2. Photonic Technology Laboratory, Department of Electrical, Electronics and System Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia

    Sahbudin Shaari

  3. Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Universiti Kebnagsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia

    Andanastuti Muchtar

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  1. Savisha Mahalingam
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  2. Huda Abdullah
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  3. Sahbudin Shaari
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  4. Andanastuti Muchtar
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Correspondence to Huda Abdullah.

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Mahalingam, S., Abdullah, H., Shaari, S. et al. Improved catalytic activity of Pt/rGO counter electrode in In2O3-based DSSC. Ionics 22, 2487–2497 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-016-1759-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-016-1759-1

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