Photovoltaic efficiency characteristics of DSSC with electroplated Pt/Ni counter electrode

Abstract

We prepared a counter electrode by electroplating Ni as underlayer and Pt as plating layer on the FTO glass to increase the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). We found an excellent adhesion between Ni underlayer and FTO glass when Ni underlayer was electroplated at 10 mA/cm 2 for 2 min on FTO glass. We observed Ni and Pt metal diffraction peaks by XRD analysis when Ni underlayer was electroplated at 10 mA/cm 2 for 2 min, and Pt layer was electroplated at 5 mA/cm 2 for 1 min on the Ni underlayer. Photovoltaic performance and impedance analysis of DSSCs fabricated with this counter electrode shows the highest efficiency of 5.6% and the lowest resistance of 75 ohm.