Monolayer of PDDA/graphene/PDDA/H(2)PtCl(6) is fabricated on conductive glass using electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly technique, which is then converted to graphene/Pt monolayer for use as counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). As compared to the sputtered Pt counter electrode, the self-assembled monolayer reduces the Pt amount by about 1000-fold but exhibits comparable photovoltaic performance. This finding provides a new route to fabrication of cheap and efficient counter electrodes for flow-line production of DSSCs.

Highly uniform and transparent polyaniline (PANI) electrodes that can be used as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared by a facile in situ polymerization method. They were used to fabricate a novel bifacially active transparent DSSC, which showed conversion efficiencies of 6.54 and 4.26% corresponding to front- and rear-side illumination, respectively. Meanwhile, the efficiency of the same photoanode employing a Pt counter electrode was 6.69%. Compared to conventional Pt-based DSSCs, the design of the bifacial DSSC fabricated in this work would help to bring down the cost of energy production due to the lower cost of the materials and the higher power-generating efficiency of such devices for their capabilities of utilizing the light from both sides. These promising results highlight the potential application of PANI in cost-effective, transparent DSSCs.