A transparent and Pt-free all-carbon nanocomposite counter electrode catalyst for efficient dye sensitized solar cells

Gurulakshmi, M.; Ambapuram, Meenakshamma; Susmitha, K.; Nagavolu, Charanadhar; Srikanth, Vadali V. S. S.; Babu, S. Narendra; Subbaiah, Y.P. Venkata; Venkateswarlu, Katta; Raghavender, M.

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2019.09.081

Cited by 43 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Improved electrocatalytic active sites through deposition of another material over CE catalysts could result in higher performance . The single wall carbon nanohorn (SWCNH) based CE assisted DSSC exhibited a good PCE. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal Dye Sensitized Solar Cell and Photocapacitor Performance with Efficient Electrocatalytic SWCNH Assisted Carbon Electrode

Gurulakshmi

Ambapuram

Tankasala³

et al. 2021

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

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The present work demonstrates the high photovoltaic power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.12% using single wall carbon nanohorn assisted carbon counter electrode based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which demonstrates a superior PCE compared to that of platinum (9.41%). This superior performance was a motivation to fabricate a dye sensitized solar module (DSSM) consisting of six series connected DSSCs arranged in a bifacial manner toward the application of building integrated photovoltaics. The DSSM demonstrated a remarkable, champion PCE of 19.71%. This high PCE, driven to fabricate an integrated device (photocapacitor), consists of a DSSM and a supercapacitor (SC). Upon two-sided illumination, the DSSM generated electrical power, and the same power is used for charging the supercapacitor. A working light emitting diode is demonstrated with discharge of the SC. The detailed fabrication strategies and results are discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal Dye Sensitized Solar Cell and Photocapacitor Performance with Efficient Electrocatalytic SWCNH Assisted Carbon Electrode

Gurulakshmi

Ambapuram

Tankasala³

et al. 2021

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

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“…Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have the advantages of transparency, colorfulness, simplicity in manufacturing, and low production cost, making them one of the most promising devices for solar power generation [9,10]. The main components of a typical DSSC are redox electrolytes (such as iodide/triiodide in an organic solvent), a dye-fixed photoelectrode (PE), and a counter electrode (CE) [11], where an ideal CE should have a high exchange current density and low charge transfer resistance [12]. In the past few decades, various Polymers 2021, 13, 3103 2 of 17 methods have been used to assemble DSSCs [13], for which the counter electrode is one of the key components [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Polymer-Assisted Dispersion of Platinum Nanoparticles/Carbon Nanotubes Nanohybrid Films as FTO-Free Counter Electrodes

Chen

et al. 2021

Polymers

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In this study, polymer-assisted dispersants are used to stabilize the nanohybrids of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through non-covalent bond forces. These dispersants aim to replace the florine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass in traditional dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as counter electrodes. The large specific surface area, high conductivity, and redox potential of PtNPs/CNT nanohybrids are used as the basis to utilize them as the counter electrode material to fabricate a dye-sensitized solar cell. The conductivity results indicate that the resistance of the PtNP/CNT nanohybrid film can be reduced to 7.25 Ω/sq. When carbon nanotubes are mixed with platinum nanoparticles at a weight ratio of 5/1, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSCs can reach 6.28%. When using the FTO-containing substrate as the counter electrode, its conversion efficiency indicates that the micro-/nano-hybrid material formed by PtNPs/CNTs also exhibits an excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency (8.45%) on the traditional FTO substrate. Further, a large-area dye-sensitive cell is fabricated, showing that an 8 cm × 8 cm cell has a conversion efficiency of 7.95%. Therefore, the traditional Pt counter electrode can be replaced with a PtNP/CNT nanohybrid film, which both provides dye-sensitive cells with a high photoelectric conversion efficiency and reduces costs.

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“…Precious metals, e.g., Pt, are currently the most commonly used catalytic materials as CEs. However, despite the high conductivity and excellent catalytic performance, Pt is expensive, the reserves are smaller, and it is unstable in iodine-based electrolyte solutions, drawbacks that limit its large-scale application. , Therefore, a counter electrode material that simultaneously satisfies the requirements of low price, excellent catalytic performance, and long lifetime is not available, which is a bottleneck restricting the large-scale application of DSSCs. Yet, the research on developing such an ideal material is promising.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rational Design of NiCo₂S₄ Quantum Dot-Modified Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube Composites as Robust Pt-Free Electrocatalysts for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Jiao

et al. 2021

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

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Composite materials made of bimetallic sulfide quantum dots and carbon nanotubes are promising electrocatalysts due to the large specific surface area and synergistic effect between sulfides and carbon components. In this work, NiCo 2 S 4 quantum dotmodified nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NiCo 2 S 4 QD@NCNTs) are prepared by a two-step solvothermal method, followed by calcination. The dye-sensitized solar cells containing NiCo 2 S 4 QD@ NCNTs as a counter electrode (CE) achieve a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 7.65%, which is superior to that of Pt (7.39%), and exhibit good electrochemical stability in iodine-based electrolytes. The notable performance is attributed to the synergistic effect between NiCo 2 S 4 QD and NCNTs. Hence, polypyrrole-derived NCNTs with high electrical conductivity and many uniformly dispersed N-doped species on the surface tightly anchor NiCo 2 S 4 QD through metal−nitrogen bonds (metal−N−C bonds). As a result, the transfer of electrons from the skeleton to the active site is promoted, the agglomeration of NiCo 2 S 4 QD is hampered, and more active sites are available. KEYWORDS: dye-sensitized solar cell, counter electrode, NiCo 2 S 4 , quantum dot, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes

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A transparent and Pt-free all-carbon nanocomposite counter electrode catalyst for efficient dye sensitized solar cells

Cited by 43 publications

References 39 publications

Optimal Dye Sensitized Solar Cell and Photocapacitor Performance with Efficient Electrocatalytic SWCNH Assisted Carbon Electrode

Optimal Dye Sensitized Solar Cell and Photocapacitor Performance with Efficient Electrocatalytic SWCNH Assisted Carbon Electrode

Enhanced Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Polymer-Assisted Dispersion of Platinum Nanoparticles/Carbon Nanotubes Nanohybrid Films as FTO-Free Counter Electrodes

Rational Design of NiCo₂S₄ Quantum Dot-Modified Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube Composites as Robust Pt-Free Electrocatalysts for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

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A transparent and Pt-free all-carbon nanocomposite counter electrode catalyst for efficient dye sensitized solar cells

Cited by 43 publications

References 39 publications

Optimal Dye Sensitized Solar Cell and Photocapacitor Performance with Efficient Electrocatalytic SWCNH Assisted Carbon Electrode

Optimal Dye Sensitized Solar Cell and Photocapacitor Performance with Efficient Electrocatalytic SWCNH Assisted Carbon Electrode

Enhanced Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Polymer-Assisted Dispersion of Platinum Nanoparticles/Carbon Nanotubes Nanohybrid Films as FTO-Free Counter Electrodes

Rational Design of NiCo2S4 Quantum Dot-Modified Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube Composites as Robust Pt-Free Electrocatalysts for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

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Rational Design of NiCo₂S₄ Quantum Dot-Modified Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube Composites as Robust Pt-Free Electrocatalysts for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells