• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.11.2-11.2
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• 2011

A key technological issue related to the implementation of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is the replacement of Pt at the counter electrodes with an inexpensive and electro-chemically stable alternative. Carbon based nanomaterials could be promising candidates, but in practice they exhibit inadequate device performance. Here, we report very thin graphene oxide (GO)/metal hybrid films as transparent counter electrodes for high-efficiency DSSCs. Transparent GO/Pt and GO/Au hybrid films showed cell efficiencies of 9.2 and 9.0%, respectively (improvements of 9.5 and 7.1% over conventional Pt counter electrodes). More interestingly, highly stable DSSCs with GO hybrid films from relatively inexpensive metals such as Cu and Ni have been demonstrated with efficiency values comparable to Pt counter electrodes. The results reported in this study should enable low-cost fabrication of DSSCs because it allows the use of relatively inexpensive metals such as Au, Cu, Ni, and Ag that could not be previously employed in DSSCs with iodide/tri-iodide electrolyte due to corrosion.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2011

In this work, electrochemical characteristics and optical transmittance of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) counter electrodes which had different amount of CNTs in CNTs slurries were analyzed. Two-step heat treatment processes were applied to achieve well-fabricated CNTs electrode. Three sets of CNTs electrodes and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with CNTs counter electrodes were prepared. As the amount of CNTs increased, sheet resistance of CNTs electrode decreased. CNTs electrode with low sheet resistance had low electrochemical impedance and fast redox reaction. On the other hand, in case of CNTs counter electrode with low density of CNTs, performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell was improved due to its high optical transmittance. We found that the transmittance of CNTs counter electrode influence the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.886-889
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• 2006

Twin Auxiliary Electrodes were applied to the counter sustain electrode structure plasma display panels for the improvement of luminous efficiency. In advanced, we investigated the spatiotemporal behaviors of excited $Xe^{\ast\ast}(2p)$ atoms in that structure unit cell with various applied voltage conditions for the auxiliary electrodes. The near-IR emissions were observed by an ICCD camera combined with narrow band pass filter. As a partial result, the intensity of IR emissions and the response time were improved with the proposed twin auxiliary electrodes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1462-1465
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• 2004

A new method to fabricate metal electrodes on side wall of the microchannel is presented. Coulter counter allows to count the number of cell passing through the microchannel by detecting impedance variation between two electrodes. The relative position of two electrodes is important for sensitivity of impedance measurement. 100nm thick Al electrodes are deposited on the channel side wall by means of shadow evaporation.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.663-668
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• 2021

For the development of highly efficient quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs), it is important to enhance the electrocatalytic activity of the counter electrodes (CEs). Herein, a fabrication process of Cu₂S CEs are optimized for the development highly efficient QDSCs. The surface of brass film is treated with HCl solution to prepare the Cu₂S CEs, and the concentraion as well as the temperature of HCl solution are controlled. It is found that the uniformity for the thickness of prepared Cu₂S CEs is enhanced when the diluted HCl solution is used, compared to the HCl solution of standard concentration. In addition, the electrocatalytic activity of the Cu₂S CEs is also increased with the modificed process, which is confirmed by impedance data and Tafel polarization curves. As a result, the photoconversion efficiency of QDSCs is improved from 4.49% up to 5.73%, when the concentraion and temperature of the HCl treatment are efficiently optimized.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.07c
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• pp.2016-2018
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• 2005

Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) consist of oxidation semiconduction electrode, electrolyte and counter electrode. Among these, Pt as counter electrode of DSC plays a role in helping redox reaction of iodine ions in electrolyte, also, transferring electrons into electrolyte. In this case, it is expected that characteristics of Pt electrodes strongly depend on fabrication process and its surface condition. In this study, electrochemical behavior of the electro-plated Pt electrode was compared with that of the sputtered Pt electrode, using cyclic-voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy (PARSTATE 2273, by AMETEK). Surface morphology of Pt electrode was investigated by AFM (XE-100, by PSIA). As a result, it was considered that electrochemical properties of sputtered Pt electrode is superior to that of electro-plated Pt electrode.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.14 no.1 s.60
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• pp.44-49
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• 2007

In the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), carbon counter electrode has been tested for replacing the platinum counter electrode which has two drawbacks: limited surface area and high material cost. Poor mechanical stability of carbon layer due to weak bonding strength to electrically conductive TCO (transparent conducting oxide) glass substrate is a crucial barrier for practical application of carbon counter electrode. In the present study a carbon counter electrode with high conversion efficiency, comparable to Pt counter electrode, could be fabricated by adaption of a bonding layer between particulate carbon material and TCO substrate.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.477-479
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• 2006

In this study, a stripe type counter electrode discharge cell for PDP was attempted to realize high luminance efficiency and low firing voltage for fine pitch discharge cells. The cells were prepared using electroplated Cu/Ni electrodes coated with glass dielectric layer. The discharge behaviors of such cells were observed. These results indicate that the counter electrode discharge cells have different discharge behavior compared with coplanar cells, which may affect the luminance efficiency of the panel.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.649-655
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• 2016

Ni nanoparticles (NPs)-graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF) composites were fabricated using an electrospinning method. The amounts of Ni precursor used as catalyst for the catalytic graphitization were controlled at 0, 2, 5, and 8 wt% to improve the photovoltaic performances of the nanoparticles and make them suitable for use as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). As a result, Ni NPs-GCNF composites that were fabricated with 8 wt% Ni precursors showed a high circuit voltage (0.73 V), high photocurrent density ($14.26mA/cm^2$), and superb power-conversion efficiency (6.72%) when compared to those characteristics of other samples. These performance improvements can be attributed to the reduced charge transport resistance that results from the synergetic effect of the superior catalytic activity of Ni NPs and the efficient charge transfer due to the formation of GCNF with high electrical conductivity. Thus, Ni NPs-GCNF composites may be used as promising counter electrodes in DSSCs.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.89-92
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• 2013

Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) polymers with different electric conductivities were synthesized directly on a FTO substrate via a chemical polymerization method and applied as a platinum (Pt)-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The catalytic properties of the PEDOT as a function of electrical conductivity were studied using cyclic voltammograms, J-V measurements and impedance spectroscopy. The PEDOT counter electrode with around 340 S/cm conductivity exhibited the best performance as a counter electrode for tri-iodide reduction. The ability to modulate catalytic activity of PEDOT with changes in conductivity shows one of promising routes for developing new counter electrode of Pt-free DSSCs.