Low-temperature Fabrication of Highly-Efficient, Optically-Transparent (FTO-free) Graphene Cathode for Co-Mediated Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Acetonitrile-free Electrolyte Solution

TL;DR

This paper presents a low-temperature fabrication method for a highly-efficient, transparent graphene cathode in dye-sensitized solar cells using an acetonitrile-free electrolyte, enhancing performance under low light conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel low-temperature fabrication process for FTO-free graphene cathodes and optimizes electrolyte solutions for improved low-light performance in DSCs.

Findings

Enhanced efficiency of DSCs with graphene cathodes at low temperatures

Successful use of acetonitrile-free electrolyte solutions

Improved performance under low illumination conditions

Abstract

Propionitrile electrolyte solutions mixed with sulfolane or with 1-ethyl 3-methyl imidazolium tetracyanoborate (ionic liquid) are optimized for Co(bpy)3+/Co(bpy)2+-mediated DSCs working at low illumination intensity.