Low-temperature UV irradiation of carbon/AgNWs counter electrodes for inexpensive flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

• A UV irradiation was employed to effectively clean up counter electrode. • Charge transfer resistance was much smaller than the value reported in literature. • The high-quality counter electrode had relatively low production cost and time. Here, we report an inexpensive and highly catalytic carbon/AgNWs counter electrode for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In order to reduce the process time, an organic surfactant is added to disperse the carbon composites. Then, a uniform catalytic layer can deposit on the silver nanowire (AgNW) transparent conductive electrode. Ultimately, a low temperature UV irradiation post-treatment is proposed to clean the surface of the catalytic layer. Through the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) curve and Tafel curve, it can be established that this carbon/AgNWs counter electrode exhibits high catalytic activity than that of Pt/ tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) electrode. In addition, the current density–voltage characteristic curves also prove that the as-assembled DSSC has a superior photoelectrical conversion efficiency.