Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 21 No 5 (2017): 1120 - 1126

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17576/mjas-2017-2105-14

INCORPORATION OF GRAPHENE INTO COUNTER ELECTRODE TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS

(Pengabungan Grafin dalam Elektrod Lawan untuk Meningkatkan Prestasi Sel Suria Terpeka Pewarna)

Aisyah Bolhan and Norasikin Ahmad Ludin*

Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: sheekeen@ukm.edu.my

Received: 12 April 2017; Accepted: 1 September 2017

Abstract

Platinum (Pt) is a conventional material for counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due to its excellent electrocatalytic activity in the redox process. However, the high cost of Pt motivates researchers to search for composite materials of Pt to reduce its consumption. This study is aimed to reduce Pt usage by incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with Pt of different ratios in counter electrode thin films and to determine the optimum ratio with the highest efficiency. A DSSC-based platinum/rGO (Pt/rGO) counter electrode composite was fabricated using doctor-blade method. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed to examine the crystallite structure of the Pt/rGO thin film. The optimum ratio was found to be 70:30 of Pt:rGO, with current–voltage characterization showing an efficiency of 5.5%, open-circuit voltage of 0.739 V, current density of 12.5 mA/cm², and fill factor of 59.24%.

Keywords: counter electrode, dye-sensitized solar cell, graphene, platinum, thin film

Abstrak

Platinum (Pt) adalah bahan konvensional untuk elektrod lawan sel suria terpeka pewarna (DSSC) memandangkan ia mempunyai aktiviti pemangkinan-elektro dalam proses redoks yang sangat baik. Namun begitu, harga Pt sangat mahal mendorong para pengkaji untuk mencari bahan komposit Pt yang boleh mengurangkan penggunaannya. Kajian ini menumpukan pengurangan penggunaan Pt dengan menggabungkannya dengan grafin oksida terturun (rGO) dengan Pt dalam filem nipis elektrod lawan pada nisbah berbeza dan untuk menentukan nisbah paling optimum yang meningkatkan kecekapan. DSSC berasaskan komposit elektrod lawan platinum/grafin oksida (Pt/rGO) telah difabrikasikan menggunakan kaedah doctor blade. Analisis Pembelauan sinar-X (XRD) telah dijalankan untuk memeriksa struktur kristal pada filem nipis Pt/rGO. Nisbah optimum yang dicapai adalah 70:30 kepada Pt:rGO dimana pencirian arus-voltan (I-V) menunjukkan nilai kecekapan ialah 5.5%, dengan nilai litar voltan terbuka V_oc, ketumpatan arus J_sc,dan faktor mengisi FF, masing-masing dengan nilai 0.739 V, 12.5 mA/cm² dan 59.24 %.

Kata kunci: elektrod lawan, sel suria terpeka pewarna, grafin, platinum, filem nipis

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