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Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2013

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

First Advisor

Madhi Farrokh Baroughi

Abstract

A new method for fabrication of highly transparent Pt counter electrodes (CE) has been developed based on spray deposition of Pt nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) on hot substrates. The platinum consumption hence the cost of the counter electrode was reduced over 86%, compared to conventional Pt counter electrode prepared by sputter deposition method. The prepared Pt-NP film led to 89% transparency and 80% transparency when integrated with indium tin oxide/glass substrate. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) images showed a large surface area for the nanoporous Pt nanoclusters. DSSCs with Pt-NP counter electrode had 6.17% power conversion efficiency, comparable to the 6.46% efficiency of the corresponding reference opaque DSSC with sputtered Pt counter electrode.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Dye-sensitized solar cells
Electrodes, Platinum

Description

Includes bibliographical references.

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

119

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

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