Facile fabrication of low-cost low-temperature carbon-based counter electrode with an outstanding fill factor of 73% for dye-sensitized solar cells
International Journal of Energy Research, cilt.44, sa.4, ss.3160-3170, 2020 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 44 Sayı: 4
- Basım Tarihi: 2020
- Doi Numarası: 10.1002/er.5174
- Dergi Adı: International Journal of Energy Research
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, INSPEC, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Civil Engineering Abstracts
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.3160-3170
- Anahtar Kelimeler: commercial carbon paste, dye-sensitized solar cells, homemade carbon paste, low-temperature carbon-based counter electrode
- Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Developing chemically inert, electrically conductive, and catalytically active counter electrodes (CEs) to replace conventional Pt-based ones is highly desirable for dye-sensitized solar cells. Herein, we reported a facile, cost-effective, and low-temperature synthesis pathway to develop carbon-based CEs. The performance of homemade carbon paste (H-CP)–based CE (H-CE) was compared with that of commercial carbon paste (C-CP)–based CE (C-CE) and Pt-based CE (Pt-CE). The scanning electron microscope (SEM) results showed that H-CE demonstrated a penetrable surface structure which facilitates the diffusion of electrolyte through the carbon electrode. This phenomenon enhanced the triiodide reduction with respect to C-CE having a compact structure that limits the electrolyte diffusion. The charge transfer properties and catalytic activities of the investigated devices were explored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel polarization measurements; the obtained results indicated that the device based on H-CE revealed relatively lower charge transfer resistance and higher exchange current density compared with C-CE-based device. The current-voltage measurements showed that the device based on H-CE has a power conversion efficiency of 2.70%, which was about 1.6 times higher than that of the device based on C-CE (1.68%). Furthermore, a fill factor of 73% was achieved for the device based on H-CE, which outperformed the Pt-based device (69%) and was among one of the highest values obtained in the literature. Also, a tape adhesion test performed on H-CP-coated glass substrate displayed its excellent robustness.