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.