j.jcis.2015.01.016
Carbon microspheres via microwave-assisted synthesis as counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells
CSs were prepared using the method reported in our previous works [36]. In briefly, 6.846 g sucrose and 2 g concentrated sulfuric acid were dissolved in 100 ml mixing solvent of water and ethylene glycol (6:4 v/v). Subsequently, 20 ml of the solution was heated at 160 degC with a microwave irradiation power of 100 W for 10 min using a microwave system (Explorer-48, CEM Co.). After being centrifuged and washed with deionized water, the resultant precipitate was dried in a vacuum oven at 80 degC for 24 h and finally thermally treated at different temperatures for 2 h in nitrogen. In this work, CSs with different thermal temperatures of 600, 800 and 1000 degC are named as CS600, CS800 and CS1000, respectively. The as-synthesized CSs were deposited on F-doped SnO2 (FTO) (resistivity: 14 Ω/#, Nippon Sheet Glass, Japan) glass by screen printing. The as-prepared counter electrodes were sintered at 400 degC for 30 min. The conventional Pt film was also used as counter electrodes for comparison.
sucrose
dissolved
6.846 g
g
sulfuric acid
dissolved
2 g
g
water
mixing solvent
100 ml
ml
mixing solvent of water and ethylene glycol
6:4 v/v
v/v
solution
heated
20 ml
ml
solution
heated
160 degC
degC
solution
heated
10 min
min
precipitate
dried
80 degC
degC
precipitate
dried
24 h
h
precipitate
thermally treated
2 h
h
CSs
thermal temperatures
600, 800 and 1000 degC
degC
F-doped SnO2 (FTO)
resistivity
14 Ω/#
Ω/#
as-prepared counter electrodes
sintered
400 degC
degC
as-prepared counter electrodes
sintered
30 min
min