Stability of Dye sensitized Solar Cells with Counter electrode on Nickel Plated Stainless Steel Substrates

ABSTRACT

A thin nickel films were deposited on stainless steel 304(StS304) substrates in a chemical action and used for fabricating platinum counter electrodes of dye sensitized solar cells(DSSCs). The influences of different nickel-plating time on the corrosion resistance of the substrates in iodine containing solution and the performance of DSSCs were studied. The results indicated that a thin nickel layer can protect the stainless steel substrates from corrosion and the best nickel-plating time was 120min. Meanwhile the DSSCs employing a Ni plated stainless steel sheet coated with chemically deposited Pt as the counter electrodes exhibited better photovoltaic performance compared with on the use of a stainless steel counter electrodes. The charge transfer resistances of the Pt coated Ni plated stainless steel counter electrodes were also lower.

Keywords:

• Dye sensitized Solar cell
• Stainless steel
• Nickel-Plating
• Counter electrode
• Stability

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Acknowledgement

Project (Granted no.50711130638) supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China and the Academy of Finland. Project(CDJXS10 13 00 12) supported by the Chongqing University Postgraduates' Science and Innovation Fund, China.