Fabrication and characterization of MWCNTs and Pt/MWCNTs counter electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

DSSCs based on three different counter electrodes (CEs) viz. platinum (Pt), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and mixed Pt/MWCNTs were prepared and their photovoltaic performance is compared. The pastes of MWCNTs and Pt/MWCNTs CEs were coated on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates with doctor blade method whereas the Pt CE is prepared by drop casting method. The structural and catalytic properties of the CEs under reference were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Cyclic voltammetry (CV), respectively. Three DSSCs with these three different CEs having ZnO as a photoanode material were assembled in a sandwiched arrangement and the photovoltaic performance of these cells were measured with the help of solar simulator under standard conditions (1.5 Sun, 100 mW cm−2). The DSSC based on mixed Pt/MWCNTs CE exhibited the highest performance (η =3.78%) as compared to the cells based on Pt (η =2.69 %) and MWCNTs (η =2.26 %) CEs which are higher than the DSSCs made with conventional Pt CE.DSSCs based on three different counter electrodes (CEs) viz. platinum (Pt), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and mixed Pt/MWCNTs were prepared and their photovoltaic performance is compared. The pastes of MWCNTs and Pt/MWCNTs CEs were coated on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates with doctor blade method whereas the Pt CE is prepared by drop casting method. The structural and catalytic properties of the CEs under reference were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Cyclic voltammetry (CV), respectively. Three DSSCs with these three different CEs having ZnO as a photoanode material were assembled in a sandwiched arrangement and the photovoltaic performance of these cells were measured with the help of solar simulator under standard conditions (1.5 Sun, 100 mW cm−2). The DSSC based on mixed Pt/MWCNTs CE exhibited the highest performance (η =3.78%) as compared to the cells based on Pt (η =2.69 %) and MWCNTs (η =2.26 %) CEs which are higher than the DSSCs made with conventional Pt CE.