Investigation of low cost carbonaceous materials for application as counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The structural and morphologic properties of different carbonaceous materials were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) porosimetry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. The electrochemical behaviour of these powders used as counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated by polarization experiments and electron impedance spectroscopy. Results were compared with DSSC using Pt as counter electrode. All DSSCs based on the carbonaceous materials showed conversion efficiencies higher than those equipped with Pt. Among the various carbon materials investigated, Acetylene Black in conjunction with graphite showed the best performance. This was interpreted from the physico-chemical analysis as due to a compromise between pores accessibility for the I 3 -reactant presents in electrolyte and appropriate surface graphiticity index of this carbonaceous material. A high degree of graphitization for the carbon black was found to enhance electron conduction and charge transfer properties.

Synthesis of stable anisotropic carbon particle aggregates covered by surface nano-graphitic sheets

“…3b), especially a diffraction peak around 2h = 26.4°; this value derived from (0 0 2) phase reflection in ideal graphite [14]. In this figure, the intensity, sharpness, and the 2h value of (0 0 2) for CLCP were the highest among all samples.…”

“…Furthermore, HRTEM images of the inner spherical particle surface in Fig. 2f show that the surface sheet thickness was about 5 nm, of which the interlayer distance of (0 0 2) d 002 was 0.35 nm, indicating higher crystallinity than that of other typical carbon particles [14]. We designate these characteristic carbon particle aggregates as chain-like carbon particles: CLCP.…”

“…They are generated naturally and industrially by the combustion of fuels. Although they sometimes stimulate the human lung and cause acute health effects [1][2][3][4], they are known to be widely used as functional materials such as rubber reinforcements [5], conductive fillers [6][7][8], and electrode materials [9][10][11][12][13][14]. Especially, demand for their use in large-capacity lithium ion batteries for automobiles is growing these days [15].…”

Multi-wall carbon nanotube counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells prepared by electrophoretic deposition

“…Although the necessary amount of Pt as an effective CE material is very low, ca. 10-100 μg cm −2 [2,3], a great deal of research has been dedicated to the development of alternatives capable of Pt CE using carbonaceous materials, such as graphite, activated carbon, carbon black and carbon nanotubes (CNT) [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11], conducting polymer [12][13][14][15], and CoS CEs [16][17][18][19] in view of the limited resources and expensive price of Pt. Among the carbonaceous materials, the fast electron transfer kinetics and the large surface area of CNTs have attracted considerable interest for use as a CE in DSSCs [20,21].…”

Improved Photocurrent of a Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-ClO4–/TiO2 Thin Film-modified Counter Electrode for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

“…CE materials require high electronic conductivity, corrosion resistance against iodides, and the ability to act as a reduction cata-lyst for the I /I 3 redox couple. Recently, it was reported that carbonaceous materials such as carbon black 2 4 , graphite 5,6 , and carbon nanotubes 7 9 , and conductive polymers such as poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene PEDOT 10,11 , polypyrrole 12,13 , and polyaniline 14,15 are effective CE catalysts. As an additional consideration, high vacuum processes such as Pt sputtering increase production costs.…”