| Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a class of photovoltaic devices that have the potential to provide high conversion efficiency at low production cost. Research to improve performance in the individual components is active, but attention must be paid to methods that improve scalability and production cost as well. Graphite nanoplatelets (GNP), thin stacks of graphene sheets with nanometer-scale thickness and micron-scale lateral dimensions, provide a unique opportunity for creating DSSC electrodes with simple manufacturing techniques and low-energy processing. For the counterelectrode, a composite paper, made by cofiltration and pressing of GNP and polypropylene (PP), yields a highly electrical conductive surface that is mechanically robust and chemically stable in electrolyte. Decoration of this surface with platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) by a rapid microwave heating process produces a catalytic surface that rivals the current "thermalized" platinum standard counterelectrode. The GNP/PP/PtNP system, however, requires lower processing temperature and requires a fraction of the Pt loading. For the transparent electrode, thin sheets of GNP can be deposited on glass surfaces to create highly transparent coatings for use in photoanode construction. Substrate interactions and post treatments are examined and techniques for optimization are outlined. Overall GNP is shown to be a versatile and effective starting material for DSSC electrode construction and demonstrates its potential as a building-block in next-generation photovoltaic devices. |
