Abstract
Energy sufficiency is a critical requirement for the economic prosperity of modern countries. Efficient harnessing of solar energy using technologies such as the dye-sensitized solar cell could solve the energy problem which persistently plagues developing countries. Despite having a simple operational procedure and modest power conversion efficiency of 13.8%, the dye-sensitized solar cell consists of an expensive platinum counter electrode which makes commercial success futile. Thus, this review intends to establish the progress researchers have attained in the development of sulphide based counter electrodes as alternatives to platinum, thereby lowering cost of production. Metallic sulphides are good electrocatalysts and cheap, hence, they possess the necessary requirements for effective functional counter electrodes. Furthermore, ternary metallic sulphides are known to exhibit higher efficiencies stemming from the synergistic effect produced by the co-existence of two metal ions in a crystal structure, which is believed to induce greater catalytic capability. Incorporation of metallic sulphides with carbon materials, which are exceptional electrical conductors, could potentially produce more efficient counter electrodes. In that regard, this review seeks to establish the effect recently developed composite counter electrodes comprising metallic sulphides and carbon-based materials have induced on the functionality of the counter electrode (CE).
Highlights
Every single day, the sun radiates more energy than the whole world requires per year [1]
Despite most non-metallic counter electrode materials being cheaper than platinum, their catalytic activity is significantly lower which results in poor photovoltaic parameters, it would reduce the cost of production for the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)
Power conversion efficiency values reflect on the overall functionality of all its four components, more effective determination of how the counter electrode affects the dye-sensitized solar cell can be made from the electrochemical analysis
Summary
The sun radiates more energy than the whole world requires per year [1]. Catalysts such as transition metal alloys [8,9], sulphides [10] and carbon-based materials [11,12] have already been tried and tested as potential replacements for platinum in dye-sensitized solar cell counter electrodes yielding various results. Despite most non-metallic counter electrode materials being cheaper than platinum, their catalytic activity is significantly lower which results in poor photovoltaic parameters, it would reduce the cost of production for the DSSC Implementation of these materials would basically be trading relatively high efficiency for cost effectiveness. Operational procedures of the DSSC as well as its composition are detailed in this review
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