Transition metal oxides as Pt‐free counter electrodes for liquid‐junction photovoltaic devices

Abstract

This work presents the synthesis of the transition metal oxides (micro‐wheels composed of self‐assembled WO3 nanorods, SnO2 nanosheets, and Fe2O3 nanoparticles) by hydrothermal method. The synthesized catalysts are then applied for the regeneration of iodide ions from triiodide ions at counter electrodes (CEs) of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs). As the results, the DSCs with low‐cost catalysts as WO3, SnO2, and Fe2O3 provided an efficiency of 4.36, 4.37 and 1.54 %, respectively, under 1 sun irradiation that is slightly lower than that of a cell with Pt electrode (5.86 %). This behavior is elucidated by electrochemical impedance measurements. These findings provide a strategy to develop low‐cost materials for DSC application.

Role of graphene oxide/yttrium oxide nanocomposites as a cathode material for natural dye‐sensitized solar cell applications

“…The extract from JG contains high-level chlorophyll, which are useful for DSSCs. 5 This paper has reported a simple and costeffective synthesis of GO/Y 2 O 3 nanocomposites and their application in Pt-free CE DSSCs. The material used for the CE is very rare.…”