Large-scale synthesis of few-layer graphene from magnesium and different carbon sources and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells

A self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) method to synthesize few-layer graphene (FLG) from magnesium and different carbon sources is demonstrated. These carbon sources include CaCO3, 3MgCO(3)center dot Mg(OH)(2)center dot 3H(2)O, glucose, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). FLG produced by SHS method has a 3D porous structure with a special nano crystallinity, and a low amount of defects. This fast, energy saving and low cost method is competitive as a candidate for industrial production of graphene for a wide range of applications. It is found that CaCO3 are superior to others among these starting materials according to DSC properties. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) with a FLG (produced from CaCO3) counter electrode (CE) achieves a power conversion efficiency higher than that obtained with a reference DSC using a Pt counter electrode. The charge transfer resistance of FLG DSC is 0.13 Omega cm(2), which is more than thirty times lower than that of the DSC having a Pt counter electrode. SHS FLG has been demonstrated to be a promising alternative counter electrode in DSC. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.