Sulfamic Acid-Doped Polyaniline Nanofibers Thin Film-Based Counter Electrode: Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Uniform polyaniline nanofibers (PANI NFs) and chemically doped sulfamic acid (SFA) PANI NFs, synthesized via template free interfacial polymerization process, were used as new counter electrodes materials for the fabrication of the highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The PANI NFs-based fabricated DSSCs exhibited a solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency of ∼4.0%, while the SFA-doped PANI NFs-based DSSC demonstrated ∼27% improvement in the solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency. The obtained solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency for SFA-doped PANI NFs-based DSSC was 5.5% under 100 mW/cm2 (AM1.5). The enhancement in the conversion efficiency was due to the incorporation of SFA into the PANI NFs, which resulted in the higher electrocatalytic activity for the I3 −/I− redox reaction.

Conducting polymer and titanium carbide-based nanocomposites as efficient counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

“…The high temperatures (typically 400 • C) utilized for its deposition is also prohibitive for use with plastic substrates. Hence, much effort has been invested in developing alternative electrocatalysts using low-cost and abundant materials such as conducting polymers [5][6][7][8][9][10], carbonaceous materials [11][12][13], and inorganic compounds [14][15][16].…”

Nitrogen-Doped TiO2 Nanoparticle-Carbon Nanofiber Composites as a Counter Electrode for Pt-Free Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…Specifically, the positive and negative pairs correspond to the oxidation reaction of I 2 /I 3 − and the reduction reaction of I 3 − /I − , respectively. 12 In particular, when the reaction of I 3 − + 2e − → 3I − is considered, sample C exhibited the highest redox current density amongst all samples. As obtained from the CV curves, oxidation peaks of pure Pt, single CNF, sample A, sample B, and sample C are 1.19, 1.51, 2.01, 2.83, and 3.06 mA/cm 2 , respectively, at 0.51 V. The reduction peaks of pure Pt, single CNF, sample A, sample B, and sample C are −1.35, −1.94, −2.49, −3.36, and −3.85 mA/cm 2 , respectively, at −0.22 V. Compared to the other samples, sample C exhibited a superb current density that is attributable to the high CNF surface roughness that serve as sites for the enhanced reduction of I 3 − ions and the existence of TiN phases within the composites for high catalytic activity.…”

The application of camphorsulfonic acid doped polyaniline films prepared on TCO-free glass for counter electrode of bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells

“…The DSSC with PANI/CSA counter electrode exhibited higher quantum efficiency from 500 nm to 700 nm. It was noted that the large amount of light could be absorbed on dye due to the complementary absorption properties of PANI film and dye [13]. In additions, the improved transparency of PANI/CSA film because of electrochromic properties which was illustrated in Fig.…”

“…The other approach of applying new inorganic materials such as WC or CoS in counter electrode showed good photovoltaic efficiency [11,12]. The conducting polymers including polyaniline (PANI) [13][14][15] or poly (3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) could also be applied to DSSC as efficient counter electrodes [16,17]. The maximum cell efficiency over 7% was obtained because of the good electrocatalytic activity of these materials.…”

“…Wu group [14] applied microporous PANI with 100 nm nanoparticles coated on FTO film to a counter electrode of DSSC and this device achieved high cell efficiency. Deng [25] and Shin group [13] utilized anion-doped PANI deposited on FTO film as a counter electrode of DSSC. However, TCO which used in general DSSC electrode also has a drawback of cost originating from an expensive fabrication process, the efforts of reducing TCO electrodes in DSSC device are greatly interested in the viewpoint of production cost and some research groups have reported good results [26][27][28].…”