Tin selenide/carbon black nanocomposite-based high efficiency counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

Abstract

Here, we propose a CE that is based on the composite of low-cost carbon black and tin selenide materials. Also, TiO2 is used as photoanode in the structure of the solar cell. The physic-chemical properties of the CEs are analyzed by XRD, TEM, Raman, BET and EDS. CV and EIS analyzes were carried out to test the electrocatalytic and charge transport properties. The DSSC with SnSe/CB-200 CE electrode exhibited with PCE of 8.17 ± 0.02% with open-circuit voltage of 0.797 ± 0.03 V and short circuit current density of 19.78 ± 0.02 mA/cm2 whereas the DSSC with platinum counter electrode showed PCE of 5.81 ± 0.03%.