Optically Transparent FTO-Free Cathode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The woven fabric containing electrochemically platinized tungsten wire is an affordable flexible cathode for liquid-junction dye-sensitized solar cells with the I-3(-)/I- redox mediator and electrolyte solution consisting of ionic liquids and propionitrile. The fabric-based electrode outperforms the thermally platinized FTO in serial ohmic resistance and charge-transfer resistance for triiodide reduction, and it offers comparable or better optical transparency in the visible and particularly in the near-IR spectral region. The electrode exhibits good stability during electrochemical loading and storage at open circuit. The dye-sensitized solar cells with a C101-sensitized titania photoanode and either PtW/PEN or PtFTO cathodes show a comparable performance.