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We prepared ZnO-nanorod electrodes in large-area (1 cm × 1 cm) dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) on plastic substrates by low-temperature hydrothermal method. The chemical composition, surface morphology, and crystalline structure of the ZnO nanorods were characterized. The XRD measurement showed that the ZnO nanorods had (0002) prefer orientation. The conversion efficiency was about 0.83% for this large-area DSSC with the ZnO-nanorod electrode, indicating that ZnO-nanorod electrodes fabricated by hydrothermal method are a promising application for plastic dye-sensitized solar cells.

To provide a counter electrode with lower-cost and simple production method for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), we developed polyaniline/graphene nanoplatelet/multi-walled carbon nanotube (PANi/GNP/MWCNT) composite films growing on glass substrates by using chemical/electrochemical deposition method and on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/glass substrates by using electrochemical deposition method respectively. A proper weight ratio of PANi/GNP/MWCNT (1/0.0030/0.0045) composite film depositing on FTO substrate as counter electrode with sheet resistance of 8.25±0.13 Ω/sq for DSSCs yielded power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 7.45±0.08%, which has potential to replace the conventional Pt cell (7.62±0.07%). In addition, we also fabricated the DSSCs composed of a proper weight ratio of PANi/GNP/MWCNTs (1/0.0045/0.0060) composite film depositing on glass substrate as counter electrode. The sheet resistance of resulting composite film was 59.34±12.34 Ω/sq. These solar cells with FTO-free counter electrode exhibited a PCE of 2.90±0.09%.

The efficient removal of gas bubbles is essential to reduce the reaction overpotential and improve the electrode stability in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). To address this challenge, the current study combines hydrophilic functionalized poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) with colloidal lithography to create superaerophobic electrode surfaces. The fabrication process involves the use of polystyrene (PS) beads with varying sizes (100, 200, and 500 nm) as hard templates and the electropolymerization of EDOTs with hydroxymethyl (EDOT-OH) and sulfonate (EDOT-SuNa) functional groups. The surface properties and HER performances of the electrodes are investigated. The electrode modified with poly­(EDOT-SuNa) and 200 nm PS beads (SuNa/Ni/Au-200) exhibits the best hydrophilicity with a water contact angle of 37°. Moreover, the overpotential required at −10 mA cm–2 is substantially reduced from −388 mV (flat Ni/Au) to −273 mV (SuNa/Ni/Au-200). This approach is further applied to commercially available nickel foam electrodes, showing improved HER activity and electrode stability. These results highlight the potential for promoting catalytic efficiency by constructing a superaerophobic electrode surface.