Abstract
Poly (N -vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-capped platinum nanoclusters were deposited on indium tin oxide glass as a counterelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cells using a "two-step dip coating" process at room temperature. Compared to sputtered-Pt electrodes, an electrode produced by this technique exhibited ultralow Pt-loading at 4.89 μg cm2 and an acceptable charge-transfer resistance of 5.66 Ω cm2. Current-voltage characteristics of the DSSC at this stage stand at 0.66 V on VOC, 10.5 mA cm2 on ISC, 0.41 on fill factor, and 2.84% cell efficiency under AM1.5, 100 mW cm2 illumination. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.