Carbon nanotube-carbon black hybrid counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells and the effect on charge transfer kinetics

Abstract

In this work, the catalytic activity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon black (CB), and CNT-CB counter electrodes in the I−/I3− reduction reaction is reported and compared with the Pt counter electrode. The fabricated counter electrodes were evaluated in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The results indicate that the best cathodes were made from CNT10 (240 μm) and CB with a charge transfer resistance (RCT) of 2.70 Ω, and when the complete device shows 19.83 Ω of internal series resistance (RS), the photovoltaic parameters of these cells were JSC = 10.47 mA cm−2; VOC = 0.70 V; and FF = 57.90, with an efficiency of 4.29%, indicating a better interaction between the CNT10 in the 3D network of the counter electrode, generating a good charge transfer kinetics, in comparison with only CNT10 or CB.