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

Abstract

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.

Solar-assisted all-solid supercapacitors using composite nanostructures of ZnO nanowires with GO and rGO

“…The combination of solar harvesting and storage in a single device by integrating PV into the SC applications is a relatively new research topic in the energy field. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] These devices have the advantages of being light-weight, small-sized, and compact when the solar cell is connected as a back electrode to the supercapacitor as a working electrode. On the other hand, semiconducting materials with simultaneous photosensitive and capacitive behaviour can achieve light-harvesting and charge storage.…”

Progress of Photocapacitors

“…As a result of improved electron and hole transfer in the charge–discharge process, the 3-T design showed a photocharged voltage under 1 sun of 0.8 V and energy density of 47 μWh cm –2 . Since then, a plethora of materials and configurations have been investigated. ,− …”

Potential transition and post-transition metal sulfides as efficient electrodes for energy storage applications: review

“…30 Thereaer, several research works were reported with integrated architectures. [36][37][38] However, the heterostructured photocapacitors are of great interest due to the direct contact between the photoactive and storage materials, making the working electrode itself a light absorber and an energy storage device through an oxidation process. This heterostructured photocapacitor possesses the unique synergistic coupling of photoactive materials and a transition metal sulde to drive the transition metal oxide derived from its sulde to act as a capacitive platform via redox pseudocapacitance under illumination.…”