Fabrication of platinum nanoparticle counter electrode for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells by controlled thermal reduction time

We report the effect of the thermal reduction time during sintering on the electrocatalytic activity and the morphology of platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) fabricated using thermal decomposition method. A uniform and dense distribution of Pt-NPs on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrate was achieved by controlling the thermal reduction time higher than 15 min and this morphology of Pt-NPs was responded for high electrocatalytic performance of counter electrode (CE). As expected, the excellent electrocatalytic activity with low charge-transfer resistance of 1.04 Ω cm² and highly conductivity of Pt-NPs CE prepared at the thermal reduction time of 15 min during sintering was obtained, which was desirable for dye-sensitized solar cells. The energy conversion efficiency of 9.43 % was obtained for the thermal reduction time of 15 min with fill factor of 63.05 %, J _sc of 18.82 mA cm^?2 and V _oc of 795 mV.