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Solution processed hybrid silver nanowire (AgNW)-graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) films were prepared and the electrocatalytic activity for the cobalt redox electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was examined. Cyclic voltammograms and Tafel polarization measurements confirmed the superior electrocatalytic activity of AgNW-GNP electrode than that of standard Pt counter electrode (CE). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) study also revealed the lower charge transfer resistance (Rct) of AgNW-GNP compared to Pt based CE. However, the resistance of the electrolyte diffusion was higher for the AgNW-GNP based CE resulted from the porous structure of the hybrid CE. The photoconversion efficiencies of the DSSC prepared with AgNW-GNP based CE was found to be 2.44%, which was comparable to that of Pt based DSSC, 2.55%. This study proposed an alternative low-cost cathode material for the cobalt redox mediator based DSSCs.

The photovoltaic performances and charge recombination of the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using N-modified TiO 2 photoelectrodes were investigated under different ion-beam conditions. N-modified TiO 2 films exhibited significantly enhanced BET surface area of 92.19 m 2 /g with the pore volume of 0.283 cm 3 /g compared to the surface area of 56.65 m 2 /g with a pore volume of 0.141 cm 3 /g of pristine TiO 2 film. The interstitial and substitutional affixations of nitrogen atom inside the TiO 2 lattice were confirmed by XPS and Raman spectroscopy. A 26% improvement in conversion efficiency was achieved by using N + ion-beam treated TiO 2 photoelectrode.

Simple solution spray coating of graphene oxide (GO) and Ag nanowires (AgNWs) was employed to prepare transparent conductive films (TCFs). We used air and ultrasonic spraying, and the effects of di...