Ordered mesoporous carbon/graphene nano-sheets composites as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract The composites of ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) and graphene nano-sheets (GNS) are prepared by mixing OMC with different weight ratios of GNS, and utilized as counter electrode (CE) materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Tafel polarization, and cyclic voltammetry measurements demonstrate that the OMC/GNS CEs display the enhanced electron transport property and fast reduction rate of I 3 − in comparison with those of the individual OMC and GNS CEs, due to the combination of superior electrical conductivity of GNS and good catalytic activity of OMC. Under AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW cm −2 ), the DSSCs based on the OMC/GNS CEs show a maximum power conversion efficiency of 6.82%, which is comparable to 7.08% of the cell with the conventional Pt CE at the same experimental conditions, suggesting that the OMC/GNS composites are one of advanced CE materials for low-cost DSSCs.