A study of TiO2/carbon black composition as counter electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

This study describes a systematic approach of TiO2/carbon black nanoparticles with respect to the loading amount in order to optimize the catalytic ability of triiodide reduction for dye-sensitized solar cells. In particular, the cell using an optimized TiO2 and carbon black electrode presents an energy conversion efficiency of 7.4% with a 5:1 ratio of a 40-nm TiO2 to carbon black. Based on the electrochemical analysis, the charge-transfer resistance of the carbon counter electrode changed based on the carbon black powder content. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry study show lower resistance compared to the Pt counter electrode. The obtained nanostructures and photo electrochemical study were characterized.

Improving catalyst stability in nano-structured solar and fuel cells

“…However, the high cost of Pt is the limiting factor for their large scale use as catalyst material for DSCs [43]. As an alternative cheaper catalyst material, carbonaceous materials have been used at the CE of DSCs in different forms including carbon black nanoparticles [44][45][46], activated carbon [47][48][49][50], nanofibers [51], single wall and multiwall nano-tubes [52][53][54][55], graphene [56,57] and reduced graphene oxides [58][59][60]. The most common methods to deposit carbon are electrochemical [60], electrophoretic deposition [61,62], screen printing of carbon pastes [63] and spray coating [50,64].…”

Carbonaceous Materials and Their Advances as a Counter Electrode in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Challenges and Prospects

“…The advantage of ac arbon/ TiO 2 composite CE is its nanostructured large inner electrode surfacea rea, which results in al ower charge-transfer resistance. [42] In the CV curves, there are two pairs of oxidation and reduction peaks. [41] The FF for the carbon/TiO 2 composite device is slightly lower than that for the Pt-based DSSC, and this arises from ah igher series resistance of 73.74 W compared with 45.67 W for Pt because of the thickness and resistivity of carbon.…”

High performance of Pt/TiO2-nanotubes/Ti mesh electrode and its application in flexible dye-sensitized solar cell

“…Kim et al prepared a Pt-TiO 2 biphase electrode through RF magnetron cosputtering system and obtained a PCE of 4.21%, which was increased up to about 1.56 times compared to a Pt electrode [13]. Lim et al used an optimized TiO 2 /carbon black electrode to obtain a PCE of 7.4%, which is about 96% compared to a well-known Pt electrode [14]. In this study, we report a facile thermal reduction method to prepare a Pt/TiO 2 -NTs/Ti mesh electrode on flexible Ti mesh.…”