Liquid phase high shear exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets as counter electrode material for dye-sensitized solar cells

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are prepared from natural graphite by a simple and low-cost liquid phase high shear exfoliation method. The as-prepared GNPs are used as a counter electrode (CE) material for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). To confirm the Exfoliated GNPs, structural and morphological studies are carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) studies. The electrochemical behaviour of GNPs as a counter electrode material is evaluated and compared with standard Platinum (Pt) electrode using cyclic-voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These studies indicated that electrocatalytic activity towards redox mediator exhibited by the GNPs based electrode is comparable to standard Pt counter electrodes. DSSCs are fabricated using the counter electrodes made of GNPs and the photo-conversion efficiency is found to be 6.23% under standard test conditions, which is comparable to Pt based DSSCs proving them as potential alternative materials for counter electrodes. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc.