Dye-sensitized solar cells based on spray-coated carbon nanofiber/TiO 2 nanoparticle composite counter electrodes

Sudhan Sigdel, Ashish Dubey, Hytham Elbohy, Alex Aboagye, David Galipeau, Lifeng Zhang, Hao Fong, Qiquan Qiao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrospun carbon nanofiber (ECN)/TiO2 nanoparticle composite counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were successfully prepared by spray-coating an ECN/TiO2 (1 : 1 by weight) mixture on a fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO)-glass substrate. TiO2 particles (Degussa P25) were used to bind carbon nanofibers and adhere them to the FTO-glass substrate. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements revealed that the spray-coated ECN/TiO2 composite CEs have lower charge transfer resistance (Rct) and higher interfacial capacitance (Q) than those of Pt CEs. Cyclic voltammograms (CV) further indicated that ECN/TiO2 composite CEs have a faster tri-iodide reduction rate than those of Pt CEs. DSSCs fabricated using ECN/TiO2 CEs showed a power conversion efficiency (η) of 7.25% under 100 mW cm -2 light intensity, which is comparable to that of thermally deposited Pt based DSSCs (η = 7.57%). Moreover, ECN/TiO2 composite CE based DSSCs demonstrated almost equal power conversion efficiency to that of Pt based cells by adding only 8 wt% Pt, which unveiled a cost-effective alternative of costly Pt CEs in DSSCs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11448-11453
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume2
Issue number29
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 7 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • General Materials Science

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