Abstract
Dye sensitized solar cells are devices that convert visible light into electricity using a dye sensitizer. They are generally low-cost, easy to make and environmentally friendly. Research in this field have mainly been focused on enhancing the performance of the devices through the optimization of its components such as the dye sensitizer and cathode. In this study, the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated with different cathode materials were tested. The experiments were carried out with one synthetic dye (N719) and two natural dyes (Pomegranate and Blueberry fruit dyes). Different cathode materials tested included thermally platinized, graphite-coated, and soot-covered Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO) electrodes. The surface morphology of the different cathode materials was examined using Field Emission Scanning Microscopy and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiencies of the devices were determined under full light illumination (100 mWcm<sup>-2</sup>, AM 1.5 Global), and the electrochemical impedance studies were carried out and compared. The efficiency of the solar cells fabricated with the graphite-based cathode electrode were determined to be higher compared to the other cathode materials used in the study. These impedance characterization results show that electron lifetimes and reaction resistances differ for the same dyes when used with different counter electrodes, providing varying photocurrent efficiencies.
Highlights
The Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), first reported by Michael Grätzel and his co-workers in 1991, is a thirdgeneration solar cell which has generated a lot attention since its discovery [1,2,3]
Dye sensitized solar cells are composed of the photoanode, a counter electrode and a redox electrolyte that fills the space between the two electrodes
This study focuses on the counter electrode used in dye sensitized solar cells
Summary
The Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), first reported by Michael Grätzel and his co-workers in 1991, is a thirdgeneration solar cell which has generated a lot attention since its discovery [1,2,3]. Research in DSSCs have mainly focused on improving the efficiency of solar-to-electric energy conversion through modification of the components of DSSC – such as the counter electrode, titanium dioxide, photosensitizer dye, redox electrolyte, and conductive glass slides [7,8,9,10,11]. Fahim Karim et al.: Nanostructured Dye Sensitized Solar Cells with Different Counter Electrodes into the conduction band of TiO2 electrode and becomes oxidized. Whereas the focus and goal of investigating the use of different dyes is the development of high efficiency dye sensitized solar cells, studies on different cathode material are generally geared towards producing low-cost cathode materials. Counter electrodes made from different materials were characterized and applied in the fabrication of dye sensitized solar cells
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