scholarly journals Electrochemically Deposited Polypyrrole for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Counter Electrodes

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khamsone Keothongkham ◽  
Samuk Pimanpang ◽  
Wasan Maiaugree ◽  
Saman Saekow ◽  
Wirat Jarernboon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Charge Transfer Resistance ◽  
Counter Electrodes ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Conductive Glass ◽  
Alternative Current ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Polypyrrole films were coated on conductive glass by electrochemical deposition (alternative current or direct current process). They were then used as the dye-sensitized solar cell counter electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that polypyrrole forms a nanoparticle-like structure on the conductive glass. The amount of deposited polypyrrole (or film thickness) increased with the deposition duration, and the performance of polypyrrole based-dye-sensitized solar cells is dependant upon polymer thickness. The highest efficiency of alternative current and direct current polypyrrole based-dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is 4.72% and 4.02%, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy suggests that the superior performance of alternative current polypyrrole solar cells is due to their lower charge-transfer resistance between counter electrode and electrolyte. The large charge-transfer resistance of direct current solar cells is attributed to the formation of unbounded polypyrrole chains minimizing theI3 −reduction rate.

scholarly journals Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 6563
Author(s):  
Md. Mahbubur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Solution Process ◽  
Charge Transfer Resistance ◽  
Counter Electrodes ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Novel nickel nitroprusside (NNP) nanoparticles with incorporated graphene nanoplatelets (NNP/GnP) were used for the first time as a low-cost and effective counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). NNP was synthesized at a low-temperature (25 °C) solution process with suitable purity and crystallinity with a size range from 5 to 10 nm, as confirmed by different spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. The incorporation of an optimized amount of GnP (0.2 wt%) into the NNP significantly improved the electrocatalytic behavior for the redox reaction of iodide (I-)/tri-iodide (I3-) by decreasing the charge-transfer resistance at the CE/electrolyte interface, lower than the NNP- and GnP-CEs, and comparable to the Pt-CE. The NNP/GnP nanohybrid CE when applied in DSSC exhibited a PCE of 6.13% (under one sun illumination conditions) with the Jsc, Voc, and FF of 14.22 mA/cm2, 0.628 V, and 68.68%, respectively, while the PCE of the reference Pt-CE-based DSSC was 6.37% (Jsc = 14.47 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.635 V, and FF = 69.20%). The low cost of the NNP/GnP hybrid CE with comparable photovoltaic performance to Pt-CE can be potentially exploited as a suitable replacement of Pt-CE in DSSCs.

scholarly journals Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Mesocarbon Microbead-Based Counter Electrodes

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Te Hsieh ◽  
Bing-Hao Yang ◽  
Wei-Yu Chen
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Charge Transfer ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Charge Transfer Resistance ◽  
Counter Electrodes ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Catalytic Sites ◽  
Low Charge ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) equipped with mesocarbon microbead (MCMB)-based counter electrodes were explored to examine their cell performance. Three types of nanosized additives including platinum, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and carbon black (CB) are well dispersed and coated over microscaled MCMB powders. In the design of the counter electrodes, the MCMB graphite offers an excellent medium that allows charge transfer from the ITO substrate to the dye molecule. The active materials such as Pt, CNT, and nanosize CB act as an active site provider for the redox reaction. Among these counter electrodes, the DSCs fabricated with CB electrode exhibit the highest power conversion efficiency. This improved efficiency can be attributed to the fact that the CB nanoparticles not only offer a large number of catalytic sites but also low charge transfer resistance, facilitating a rapid reaction kinetics. Such design of carbon counter electrode has been confirmed to be a promising candidate for replacing Pt electrodes.

scholarly journals Electrochemical, Structural and Morphological Characterization of Hydrothermally Fabricated Binary Palladium Alloys PdCo and PdNi

Metals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 796
Author(s):  
Edson Meyer ◽  
Raymond Taziwa ◽  
Dorcas Mutukwa ◽  
Nyengerai Zingwe
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Charge Transfer ◽  
Binary Alloys ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Charge Transfer Resistance ◽  
Palladium Alloys ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

This article details the development and characterization of binary palladium alloys synthesized via a hydrothermal process. Palladium alloys, being good redox catalysts, could potentially replace platinum in many applications such as in dye sensitized solar cells, capacitors and vehicular catalytic converters where platinum is vital for maximum productivity. A good replacement should be cheap, readily available and be able to offer comparable catalytic activity to that of platinum. As such we hereby attempt to hydrothermally fabricate and characterize binary palladium alloys PdNi and PdCo that could be ideal replacements for platinum. XRD analysis of the as-synthesized binary alloys revealed the existence of only palladium peaks at 2θ values of 40.1°, 46.7°, 68.1°, 82.1° and 86.6°, indicative of the successful formation of the binary alloys. SEM micrographs revealed that both alloys consisted of spherical particles with PdCo agglomerating to an extent, whereas PdNi was widely distributed, thus it could enhance electrolyte adsorption during catalytic reduction reactions. Cyclic voltammetry analysis at 50 mV∙s−1 revealed that PdNi is more electrocatalytically active with a reduction current density of 41 mA∙cm−2 compared to 18 mA∙cm−2 for PdCo. Lower charge transfer resistance from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed the superior catalytic ability of PdNi. The two palladium alloys also produced maximum specific capacitances of 68 and 27 F∙g−1 for PdNi and PdCo respectively. Analysis of the sample stability yielded coulombic efficiency retention of 98.7 and 97% for PdNi and PdCo respectively after 1000 cycles. Results obtained have shown that the palladium alloys with their low charge transfer resistance could be ideal replacements for platinum in dye sensitized solar cells. Modest specific capacitance for PdNi illustrates its potential as an electrode catalyst in capacitors.

Preparation and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Pt/TCG Counterelectrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antigoni V. Katsanaki ◽  
Dimitris S. Tsoukleris ◽  
Polycarpos Falaras ◽  
Haido S. Karayianni ◽  
Marie-Claude Bernard
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solid State ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Surface Characteristics ◽  
Counter Electrodes ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Conductive Glass ◽  
Pt Films ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Transparent counter electrodes were prepared on transparent conductive glass (TCG) substrates from a hexachloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6) solution applying the thermal decomposition method in combination with the spin-coating deposition technique. The effect of the precursor concentration and the number of deposited platinum layers on the surface characteristics of the Pt films was examined, and the relation between those surface characteristics and the electrochemical properties of the corresponding modified Pt/TCG electrodes was defined. Four types of counterelectrodes were prepared, differing in the concentration of the H2PtCl6 solution (0.03M and 0.15M) and in the number of Pt layers (one or two Pt layers); their performance as counterelectrodes was evaluated after their incorporation into dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) employing a solid state redox electrolyte. The obtained results show that solar cells using counterelectrodes prepared from the 0.03MH2PtCl6 solution and consisting of two Pt layers (Pt032 electrode) exhibited the best performance characteristics (diffusion coefficient D*I3−=1.58×10−5cm2s−1, conversion efficiency η=2.16%, fill factor ff=62.14%, and short circuit photocurrent Isc=4.71mAcm−2). The electrochemical behavior of the modified counterelectrodes is consistent with the surface characteristics of the Pt film that formed on the conductive glass substrate, which seems to be significantly affected by the adopted method and the adjusted experimental parameters (Pt concentration and number of Pt layers). Specifically, this type of electrodes beside their low roughness (Rq=11.5nm), also presents a high complexity (Df=2.3). As a result, for this kind of solid state DSSCs, the less rough but the more complex the Pt/TCG electrode surface, the higher the efficiency of the corresponding solar cells.

scholarly journals Preparation of Nano-Ag-TiO2 Composites by Co-60 Gamma Irradiation to Enhance the Photocurrent of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Le Thanh Nguyen Huynh ◽  
Viet Hai Le ◽  
Thanh Long Vo ◽  
Thi Kim Lan Nguyen ◽  
Quoc Hien Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Charge Transfer ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Charge Transfer Resistance ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Nano-silver-titanium dioxide (Ag-TiO2) composites were prepared from commercial TiO2 (P25, Degussa) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) by gamma Co-60 irradiation method with various initial concentrations of AgNO3. The nano-AgTiO2 composites are utilized as the photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Under full sunlight illumination (1000 W/m2, AM 1.5), the efficiency of DSCs has improved significantly despite the Ag content of below 1%. The DSC—assembled with 0.75 Ag-TiO2 (0.75% Ag) photoanode—showed that the photocurrent was significantly enhanced from 8.1 mA.cm−2 to 9.5 mA.cm−2 compared to the DSCs using bared TiO2 photoanode. The unchanged open-circuit voltage resulted in the overall energy conversion efficiency to be increased by 25% from 3.75% to 4.86%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis showed that the charge transfer resistance is reduced when increasing Ag content, demonstrating that the charge transfer at TiO2/dye interface was enhanced in the presence of silver nanoparticles.

scholarly journals Self-Assembly Synthesis of the MoS2/PtCo Alloy Counter Electrodes for High-Efficiency and Stable Low-Cost Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Zeng ◽  
Dongbo Wang ◽  
Jinzhong Wang ◽  
Shujie Jiao ◽  
Yuewu Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Electrocatalytic Activity ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Counter Electrodes ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Ptco Alloy

In this work, MoS2 microspheres/PtCo-alloy nanoparticles (MoS2/PtCo-alloy NPs) were composited via a novel and facile process which MoS2 is functionalized by poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) and self-assembled with PtCo-alloy NPs. This new composite shows excellent electrocatalytic activity and great potential for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as a counter electrode (CE) material. Benefiting from heterostructure and synergistic effects, the MoS2/PtCo-alloy NPs exhibit high electrocatalytic activity, low charge-transfer resistance and stability in the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test. Meanwhile, a high power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.46% is achieved in DSSCs with MoS2/PtCo-alloy NP CEs, which are comparable to traditional Pt CEs (8.45%). This novel composite provides a new high-performance, stable and cheap choice for CEs in DSSCs.

scholarly journals SiNW/C@Pt Arrays for High-Efficiency Counter Electrodes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Junhee Kim ◽  
Sanghoon Jung ◽  
Han-Jung Kim ◽  
Yoonkap Kim ◽  
Chanyong Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Carbon Shell ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Counter Electrodes ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Modern energy needs and the pressing issue of environmental sustainability have driven many research groups to focus on energy-generation devices made from novel nanomaterials. We have prepared platinum nanoparticle-decorated silicon nanowire/carbon core–shell nanomaterials (SiNW/C@Pt). The processing steps are relatively simple, including wet chemical etching to form the silicon nanowires (SiNWs), chemical vapor deposition to form the carbon shell, and drop-casting and thermal treatment to embed platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs). This nanomaterial was then tested as the counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). SiNW/C@Pt shows potential as a good electrocatalyst based on material characterization data from Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Raman spectroscopy shows that the surface reactivity of the SiNW/C is increased by the decoration of Pt NPs. These data also show that the carbon shell included both graphitic (sp 2 hybridization) and defective (sp 3 hybridization) phases of carbon. We achieved the minimum charge-transfer resistance of 0.025 Ω · cm 2 and the maximum efficiency of 9.46% with a symmetric dummy cell and DSSC device fabricated from the SiNW/C@Pt CEs, respectively.

Synthesis of Porous NiMo Sulfide Microspheres for High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Supercapacitor

NANO ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (04) ◽  
pp. 1950048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Yang ◽  
Bin Xia ◽  
Jiacheng Lu ◽  
Peizhi Yang ◽  
Xiaobo Chen
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Specific Capacitance ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Counter Electrodes ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Hierarchical Porous ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Novel hierarchical porous NiMoS4 microspheres with high electrochemical performance was successfully prepared using a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The dual application of porous NiMoS4 microspheres in energy harvesting and storage (i.e., dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and supercapacitors (SCs), respectively) is explored. In contrast to NiS2 nanosheets, MoS2 nanosheets and Pt counter electrodes (CEs), the NiMoS4 microspheres CE demonstrated the lowest charge transfer resistance and highest electrocatalytic activity for the I[Formula: see text]/I− redox couple reaction. The NiMoS4-based DSSC showed a higher power conversion efficiency (8.9%) even than that of Pt-based DSSC (8.7%) under simulated standard global AM 1.5[Formula: see text]G sunlight (100[Formula: see text]mW[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text]). As an electroactive material for SCs, the assembled NiMoS4//AC asymmetric supercapacitor showed excellent specific capacitance (118.7[Formula: see text]F[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] at 1[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text][Formula: see text], high energy density of 42.2[Formula: see text]Wh[Formula: see text]kg[Formula: see text] (with a power density of 799.2[Formula: see text]W[Formula: see text]kg[Formula: see text], and superior cycling durability with a specific capacitance retention of 79.5% after 9000 cycles at 3[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text].

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