The optimisation of dye sensitised solar cell working electrodes for graphene and SWCNTs containing quasi-solid state electrolytes

Abstract

Publication informationSolar Energy, 110 (2014): 239-246 Publisher ElsevierItem record/more information http://hdl.handle.net/10197/6108 Publisher's statement þÿ T h i s i s t h e a u t h o r s v e r s i o n o f a w o r k t h a t w a s a c c e p t e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n i n S o l a r E n e r g y .Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, Highlights• Graphene & CNT based quasi-solid state electrolytes for dye sensitised solar cells.• Charge transfer resistances at counter electrode reduced by almost a factor of 50.• Optimisation of DSSC working electrodes for quasi-solid state electrolytes.• Significant performance improvement for quasi-solid state DSSC is achieved. AbstractIn this study, we report improved power conversion efficiencies of various carbon based quasi-solid state electrolytes/DSSCs by optimising the thickness of TiO 2 layer, incorporation of TiO 2 scattering layer and application of dense compact surface layers of TiO 2 on working electrodes. Single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) based quasi-solid state electrolytes showed increased power conversion efficiencies from 1.43 % to 3.49 %. For the mixture of graphene and SWCNTs the power conversion efficiencies improved from 2.50 % to 2.93 %.However, graphene based quasi-solid state electrolytes displayed small decreases in power conversion efficiencies from 2.10 % to 1.96 % due to the more viscous nature of this electrolyte. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that the addition of these various carbon based nanomaterials into PMII significantly decreases the charge transfer resistance at the counter electrode and hence the much better performance obtained with carbon based quasi-solid state electrolytes compared to pure PMII based DSSCs.

Artificial evolution of coumarin dyes for dye sensitized solar cells

“…5 With the highest reported solar energy to current conversion efficiency of only 12% 6 (for a zinc-porphyrin dye combined with a cobalt based redox mediator), more needs to be done to improve the efficiency and stability of DSSCs. With this aim in view, research has focused on optimizing the different components ranging from electrodes [7][8][9][10] to electrolytes 6,[11][12][13] and dyes. [14][15][16] In contrast to other materials used in the DSSC, the properties of the dyes (light harvesting efficiency, stability etc.)…”

Microwave-assisted synthesis of titanium dioxide nanocrystalline for efficient dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells

“…Nanocrystalline TiO 2 , a material that is abundant and chemically stable, is widely used for working electrode in photovoltaic devices, photocatalyst coatings, photoelectrochemical system, lithium (or sodium) batteries, chromatic display and so on (Byrne et al, 2014;Fujishima and Honda, 1972;Laskova et al, 2014;Periyat et al, 2010;Wu et al, 2014). For most of the highly efficient DSCs devices, their IPCE responses are nearly 90% at the dye-absorbing region, which implies the charge collection efficiency is close to unity (Grätzel, 2009;Yella et al, 2011).…”

Aligned carbon nanotube/polymer hybrid electrolytes for high performance dye sensitized solar cell applications

“…3,4 Since the DSSC was categorized between conventional photovoltaic cells and classical photo-electrochemical cells, a lot of researchers tried to point out their considerable contribution to improve the scientific and technological advancement in the field of this photovoltaic technology. [8][9][10][11][12] Among them, polymer gel electrolytes have been employed as a suitable 4 candidates for electrolyte applications due to their unique properties. 6 However, the electrolyte leakage, electrode corrosion, volatilization of organic solvents and sealing problem are hampered for further technical development and commercialization of DSSCs.…”

“…[24][25][26][27] In particular, the utilization of carbon based nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes as fillers can improve the charge transport within electrolyte medium due to their outstanding characteristics such as electronic properties, ballistic charge transport, high mechanical strength, thermal stability and catalytic activity for the reduction of tri-iodide (I 3 -) to iodide (I -). 8 It was observed that the addition of more amount of CNT within polymer electrolytes leads to poor ionic conductivity. 28,29 Byrne et al reported that the incorporation of carbon based nanomaterials (CNT and graphene) into the 1-Methyl-3-propylimidasolium iodide (PMII) based ionic liquid electrolyte could significantly reduced the charge transfer resistance and improved the photovoltaic performance.…”