Counter Electrode For DSSC Research Articles

GQDs assisted Ba6Co25S27/MWCNT composite as a promising candidate for supercapacitor and a perspective Pt-free counter electrode in DSSC for enhancing the short circuit current

Bifunctional barium cobalt sulfide (BCS) spherical like structure composites with and without carbon materials (MWCNT and GQDs) are synthesized via hydrothermal method and are used as a counter electrode (CE) for DSSC and working electrode for supercapacitors. Crystalline structure, shape and chemical state of the prepared samples are examined by XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS analysis. BCS/MWCNT/GQDs CE based device delivers the short circuit current (JSC) of 10.57 mA/cm2 and open circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.73 V and Fill Factor (FF) of 0.58 and Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) of 4.48%, which shows two-fold increment than pristine BCS CE. The same composites are tested under cyclic voltammetry and charge/discharge characteristic due to analyze the charge storage performance. Among the three composites, the GQDs embedded BCS/MWCNT composite exhibits the highest specific capacitance of 191 C/g. The findings show that GQDs supported BCS/MWCNT composites are not only a feasible option for Pt-free counter electrodes, but also provide a better outlook for energy storage devices.

Eco-friendly direct-current pulsed electropolymerization of polyaniline nanofibers on synthetic graphite substrate for counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

ABSTRACT This paper reports the study of the effect of varying duty cycles on the synthesis of PANI by pulsed electropolymerization method to the performance of PANI as a counter electrode in DSSC. The deposited PANI is in emeraldine salt form, confirmed by FTIR-ATR and Raman spectroscopy. SEM analysis observed that all PANIs has nanofiber morphology. PANI with a 10% duty cycle provides the smallest average diameters and lowest film thickness (11.56 μm), lowest RCT (59.00 Ω), lowest RS (40.06 Ω), highest VOC (0.688 V), and highest JSC (9.066 mA cm−2) that lead to the highest performance (η = 2.402%).

Stimulated carbon from Jackfruit wood with TiO2 on FTO substrate as an active counter electrode in DSSC

An effort has been taken to carbonize Jackfruit wood at 750 °C and NaOH which is used for the synthesis of activated carbon. XRD, SEM and EDAX are taken and analyzed for the confirmation of the activated carbon and precise results are presented. As prepared activated carbon is incorporated on the TiO2 coated FTO substrate to be percolated as counter electrode in Dye Sensitized Solar Cell. Dye from the leaves of Saraca Asoca is extracted and subjected to FTIR and UV–Visible spectroscopy to find the presence of chemical constituents. The influence of natural dye in photoanode and activated carbon in counter electron has boosted the photoconversion efficiency of 40% higher than the graphene-based counter electrode. The proposed cell has enhanced photocatalytic activity for the redox couple I-/I3- with low charge transfer resistance of 32.7 Ω. The cell has given short circuit photocurrent density of 3.608 mA/cm2 will fill factor of 0.588 and improved light scattering respectively.

Improved electrochemical performance of Cu2NiSnS4 hierarchical nanostructures as counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells

New hierarchical quaternary Cu2NiSnS4 nanostructures were successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using different surfactants. The crystal structure, elemental composition and morphologies of the as-synthesized nanostructures were characterised by XRD, XPS and FESEM as well as TEM respectively. The charge transfer resistance, catalytic and photovoltaic performance of Cu2NiSnS4 exhibited morphological dependence. The nanosheet based flower like hierarchical structure formed in the presence of ethylenediamine exhibited favourable electrocatalytic properties when used as counter electrode in DSSC with an overall conversion efficiency of 3.86 % with a fill factor of 65 %, a short circuit current of 8.02 mA cm2 which were comparable with those of Pt (3.93 %), fill factor of 66 %, a short circuit current of 8.23 mA cm2 under the same device configuration.

Surface-treated Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoflakes as Pt-free inexpensive and effective counter electrode in DSSC

Inexpensive semiconducting counter electrode (CE) was fabricated from copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanoflakes (NFs) through simple non-vacuum-based techniques. The kesterite CZTS NFs were synthesized by hot injection method using oleic acid as solvent. CZTS CE was prepared through solid-state ligand exchange method using ammonium sulfide salt ((NH4)2S) as the displacement ligand. Thin-film CZTS CE (on FTO substrate) was developed through inexpensive layer-by-layer (LbL) approach, without any post-treatment such as toxic sulfurization process. Hence, the fabrication of CZTS CE through this approach is scalable. The CZTS thin film showed NFs like morphology with higher surface area and achieved good electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of iodide electrolyte. Two DSSCs using different CEs (CZTS NFs and Pt) were fabricated in separate cell structures in our laboratory. DSSC with CZTS NFs as CE showed the power conversion efficiency of 2.95% which is comparable to the DSSC with Pt (3.11%).

Performance evaluation of a low-cost, novel vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) as a platinum-free electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells.

A vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) was synthesised by a simple and effective method of ammonialising a vanadium pentoxide xerogel at a higher temperature. Xerogel-structured materials possess salient features such as high surface area, tunable porosity and pore size that result in enhancing the catalytic activity by a fast electron-transport pathway and increase electrolyte diffusion channels. Metal nitrides are reported as promising alternate low-cost counter electrodes to replace the conventional and expensive platinum (Pt) counter electrode. Though few studies are reported on aerogel-based CEs for DSSCs, the present work is the first attempt to synthesize and evaluate the performance of xerogel-structured metal nitrides as counter electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells. The synthesized material was well characterized for its structural and morphological characteristics and chemical constituents by photoelectron spectroscopy. Finally, the VNXG was tested for its electrocatalytic performance as a choice of counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photo-current studies were performed under standard 1 SUN, class AAA-simulated illumination with AM1.5G. The consolidated results revealed that the vanadium nitride xerogel exhibited good photocatalytic activity and low charge transfer resistance. This identified it as a promising low-cost counter electrode (CE) material for dye-sensitized solar cells. The photo-current conversion efficiency of the vanadium nitride xerogel CE-based DSSC reached 5.94% comparable to that of the conventional thermal decomposed Pt CE-based DSSC, 7.38% with the same iodide/triiodide electrolyte system. Moreover, the 28 days stability study of VNXG CE DSSCs provided an appreciably stable performance with 37% decrement in the PCE under the same test condition.

Synthesis of CoSe2/RGO Composites and Its Application as a Counter Electrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

In this study, cobalt diselenide (CoSe2) and the composites (CoSe2@RGO) of CoSe2 and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal reaction using cobalt ions and selenide source with or without graphene oxide (GO). The formation of CoSe2@RGO composites was identified by analysis with X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrochemical analyses demonstrated that the CoSe2@RGO composites have excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of I3<sup>−</sup>, possibly indicating a synergetic effect of CoSe2 and RGO. As a consequence, the CoSe2@RGO composites were applied as a counter electrode in DSSC for the reduction of redox couple electrolyte, and exhibiting the comparable power conversion efficiency (7.01%) to the rare metal platinum (Pt) based photovoltaic device (6.77%).

Grafting cobalt sulfide on graphene nanosheets as a counterelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

In the present work a composite counter electrode of graphene nanosheets grafted cobalt sulfide was fabricated through a facile synthetic route, in which cobalt sulfide nanoparticles were successfully grafted on the surface of graphene nanosheets. Used as a counter electrode in DSSC, a power conversion efficiency of 7.28% can be achieved. Such a result might be contributed to the facts that this counter electrode composed of graphene nanosheets grafted cobalt sulfide has a good stability and electrochemical catalytic performance toward triiodide reduction reaction.

Synthesis and analysis of Mo2N as efficient counter electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells

The category of transition metal nitrides has been least explored for DSSC. Here, Mo2N was synthesized by a solgel followed by nitridation method and utilized as the counter electrode for DSSC. The structural studies were carried out with XRD, morphology with SEM, TEM, electrochemical studies with Cyclic Voltammetry, EIS and Tafel. Further I-V characteristic was studied using solar simulator Oriel Class AAA under standard test conditions. The Mo2N counter electrodes showed excellent electrochemical activity comparable to that of platinum. DSSC with Mo2N generated an average efficiency of 2.79% and hence can be a promising alternative to Platinum.

First principles study of transition metals doped SiC for application as counter electrode in DSSC

The modification in material of counter electrode to improve the performance of dye sensitized solar cell based on first principles calculations is being reported. The slab models of pure SiC and its doping with Pt and Cr were investigated to study the catalytic activity on the basis of adsorption of triiodide and monoiodides as well as charge transfer from the slabs to the adsorbents. The iodide reduction reaction was modeled to study the splitting of tri-iodide into iodine and then into iodide ions which receive negative charge from the slabs. It was found that Cr doped SiC exhibited better activity to split the triiodide but poor action to further split the iodine into monoiodides when compared with pure SiC and Pt doped SiC slabs. The outcomes of this study revealed that TM doped SiC slabs may provide alternate materials to platinum for use as counter electrodes.

A review on applications of Cu2ZnSnS4 as alternative counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

A contribution of counter electrode (CE) emphasis a great impact towards enhancement of a dye-sensitized solar cell's (DSSC) performance and Pt based CE sets a significant benchmark in this field. Owing to cost effective noble metal, less abundance and industrial large scale application purpose, an effective replacement for Pt is highly demanded. There are several approaches to improve the performance of a CE for enhancing the power conversion efficiency with a less costly and facile device. To address this issue, reasonable efforts execute to find out suitable replacement of Pt is becoming a challenge by keeping the same electrochemical properties of Pt in a cheaper and eco-friendlier manner. With this, cheaper element based quaternary chalcogenide, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) becomes a prominent alternative to Pt and used as a successful CE in DSSC also. This review presents brief discussion about the basic properties of CZTS including its synthesis strategy, physicochemical properties and morphology execution and ultimate application as an alternative Pt free CE for a low cost based enhanced DSSC device. It is therefore, imperative for engineering of CZTS material and optimization of the fabrication method for the improvement of DSSC performance.

Nanophase CuInS2 nanosheets/CuS composite grown by the SILAR method leads to high performance as a counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells

CuInS2 nanosheets are synthesized by SILAR followed by annealing at 500 °C, whereas at 250 °C a composite of CIS and CuS is obtained. This composite yields an efficiency of 6.3% as counter electrode for DSSC.

The first application of water-soluble ruthenium phenanthroline complex for dye sensitized solar cells from aqueous solution using PEDOT:PSS counter electrode versus platinum counter electrode

Photovoltaic properties of RuII(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline-disulfonic acid disodium salt)-bis(2,2′-bipyridine), [Ru(L1)(bpy)2](PF6)2, [K403] related to its adsorption behaviour onto the nanoporous titanium oxide are investigated in association with its water-soluble structure thanks to disulfonic acid disodium salt groups. Dye sensitized solar cell is fabricated from aqueous solution of water-soluble ruthenium complex. Devices are fabricated in a sandwich geometry using PEDOT:PSS counter electrode versus platinum counter electrode. Poly(3,4-ethylendioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is coated on FTO conducting glass substrate by spin coating process and used as dye sensitized solar cell’s counter electrode. Our device performance results show that PEDOT:PSS counter electrode in DSSC has reasonably good catalytic activity and can be used instead of platinum counter electrode. The energy conversion efficiency is significantly favourable for DSSC using PEDOT:PSS counter electrode. The optical and electrochemical behaviours of K403 are studied. Also cyclic voltammograms and estimated by density functional theory studies (DFT) are studied for calculating EHomo and ELumo energy levels of ruthenium complex.

Functionalized graphene/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate as counter electrode catalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells

A (grapheme/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate) graphene/PEDOT:PSS composite film was electrodeposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive substrate by one-step electrochemical polymerization method. The low-cost and platinum-free film was used as counter electrode in (dye-sensitized solar cell) DSSC. The cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel measurements indicate that the graphene/PEDOT:PSS composite film has low charge-transfer resistance on the electrolyte/electrode interface and high catalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide to iodide and. As a result, the DSSC based on the graphene/PEDOT:PSS counter electrode showed high power conversion efficiency of 7.86% under a simulated sunlight illumination of 100 mW cm−2 (AM 1.5), which is comparable with the performance of the DSSC based on Pt counter electrode (7.31%).

Photovoltaic Properties and Negative Capacitance Spectroscopy of PCBM:P3HT/FTO Nanostructured Counter Electrode for TiO2-Based DSSC

Nano-clusters blind films of phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) were deposited on fluorine doped tin-oxide (FTO) substrate by spin coating and applied as counter electrodes instead of platinum for a new FTO/TiO2 + K30 dye-sensitized solar cell. The photovoltaic parameters of the fabricated solar cell; open circuit voltage, short circuit current, output power and fill factor, were studied under various light intensities in the range 20:110 mW cm−2. An impedance spectroscopy study was also performed in a wide frequency range (5 kHz–1 MHz) to study the electron transport properties of the solar cells. The capacitance–voltage of the prepared DSSC is characterized by two parts: positive values of capacitance at low frequency range, f ≤ 100 kHz and negative capacitance i.e., an inductive behavior, in higher frequency range f ≥ 300 kHz Conducting polymer electrode based on PCBM:P3HT/FTO can be used as a counter electrode in a DSSC.

The simple and easy way to manufacture counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

We previously developed poly-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (PVP)-capped Pt nanoclusters on ITO glass via a simple “2-step dip coating process” as counter electrode for DSSC. This new counter electrode was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and current–voltage curve ( I– V curve). The TEM results revealed that PVP-capped Pt nanoclusters’ size is about 3 nm, and the amount of Pt deposited on ITO glass is about 5 μg/cm 2. Comparing with sputtered Pt and Solaronix thermal cluster Pt-catalyst T/SP, the PVP-capped Pt counter electrode has lower amount of Pt deposited on TCO glass, more positive potential of tri-iodide reduction, and better performance for the charge-transfer resistance ( R CT) and the cell efficiency ( η).