Metal Sulphides and Their Carbon Supported Composites as Platinum-Free Counter Electrodes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: A Review

Abstract

Energy sufficiency is a critical requirement for the economic prosperity of modern countries. Efficient harnessing of solar energy using technologies such as the dye-sensitized solar cell could solve the energy problem which persistently plagues developing countries. Despite having a simple operational procedure and modest power conversion efficiency of 13.8%, the dye-sensitized solar cell consists of an expensive platinum counter electrode which makes commercial success futile. Thus, this review intends to establish the progress researchers have attained in the development of sulphide based counter electrodes as alternatives to platinum, thereby lowering cost of production. Metallic sulphides are good electrocatalysts and cheap, hence, they possess the necessary requirements for effective functional counter electrodes. Furthermore, ternary metallic sulphides are known to exhibit higher efficiencies stemming from the synergistic effect produced by the co-existence of two metal ions in a crystal structure, which is believed to induce greater catalytic capability. Incorporation of metallic sulphides with carbon materials, which are exceptional electrical conductors, could potentially produce more efficient counter electrodes. In that regard, this review seeks to establish the effect recently developed composite counter electrodes comprising metallic sulphides and carbon-based materials have induced on the functionality of the counter electrode (CE).

Investigating the Role of Selenium-Ion Concentration on Optoelectronic Properties of the Cu2ZnSn(S1–xSex)4 Thin Films

“…The smaller semicircle in the EIS plot was observed for sample Se 4 , which confirms the generation of lower R ct for the sample deposited at x = 0.075 M. The highest PCE was observed for the Se 4 sample, it is attributed to the generation of lower R ct . The lower R ct provides a reliable pathway for electrons for electron transformation across the CZTSSe–electrolyte junction, which is essential for efficient photovoltaic performance. , …”

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

“…Platinum has attained the name as an efficient counter electrode aer complete theoretical and experimental validation, however the higher cost and scarcity of platinum bottleneck the commercialization of DSSCs in the economic market. [17][18][19][20] Thus, primary research to crosscut the cost of the DSSC device is undergoing in various aspects either by reducing the usage of Pt by making composites with carbon 21,22 or by replacing with other transition metals, 23 metal oxides, 24 metal nitrides, 25 metal sulphides, [26][27][28] etc. Since the study on metal nitrides has proved the efficient catalytic activity like Pt, it is one of the signicant choices for CEs, and the cost is also signicantly lesser than platinum.…”

Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Toward Solid‐State and Platinum‐Free Photovoltaics

“…[61][62][63][64][65] The scientific community has proposed numerous solutions to these purposes, which are summarized in various reviews present in the literature. [66][67][68][69][70] In this sector, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) plays an important role. [71] It was invented at the Bayer AG research laboratories around 40 years ago [72] and its excellent conductivity (300-500 S cm −1 ), high flexibility, excellent transparency in visible light, remarkable stability, and low cost (even if an accurate and comparative LCA is still missing) make it among the most desired polymeric organic conductors of interest for electronic, antistatic and optoelectronic applications.…”