Enhanced Performance of Supported HfO2 Counter Electrodes for Redox Couples Used in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract Mesoporous‐graphitic‐carbon‐supported HfO 2 (HfO 2 ‐MGC) nanohybrids were synthesized by using a soft‐template route. Characterization and a systematic investigation of the catalytic properties, stability, and catalytic mechanism were performed for HfO 2 ‐MGC counter electrodes (CEs) in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The new HfO 2 ‐MGC as a CE in DSSCs showed a surprisingly high efficiency of 7.75 % for the triiodide/iodide redox couple and 3.69 % for the disulfide/thiolate redox couple, greater than the Pt electrode in the corresponding electrolyte system, which opens up a possibility for its practical application.