Improvement of Efficiency of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells by Incorporating Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have aroused intense attention over the past three decades owing to their low cost, inexpensive raw materials, simple fabrication process, and employment of eco-friendly materials. Recently, to take advantage of their lower electrical resistance, excellent electrocatalytic operation, mechanical integrity, low cost, and flexibility, carbon nanotubes CNTs have been incorporated into DSSCs with a view to improve the efficiency further. CNT can be used in the anode, electrolyte, and counter electrode. The incorporation of CNTs into the anode’s semiconductor material decreases the host material’s resistance and increases thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and durability. CNTs in ionic liquids have been investigated as a potential alternative for traditional liquid electrolytes for DSSC application because of low viscosity, low vapor pressure, high diffusion coefficient, high electrochemical, and thermal stability. CNT based counter electrode has attracted considerable interest because of its fast electron transfer kinetics and large surface area. This book chapter provides an insight into the fabrication of DSSCs by incorporating CNT and its effects on cell conversion efficiencies.