A soft-template-conversion route to fabricate nanopatterned hybrid Pt/carbon for potential use in counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells

Hybrid Pt(platinum)/carbon nanopatterns with an extremely low loading level of Pt catalysts derived from block copolymer templates as an alternative type of counter electrodes (CEs) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are proposed. DSSCs employing hybrid Pt/carbon with tailored configuration as CEs exhibit higher short-circuit current and conversion efficiencies as well as stability with a lapse of time compared with conventional cells on the basis of sputtered Pt thin films, evidencing that the new class of hybrid nanostructures possess high potential for cost-effective electrodes in energy conversion devices. Hybrid Pt/carbon nanopatterns with an extremely low loading level of platinum catalysts derived from block copolymer templates as an alternative type of counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells exhibit high durability and stability after repeated operation time as well as enhance the device performance at a reduced fabrication cost. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.