ZHENG Wei, QI Tao, ZHANG Yong-chao, SHI Hai-ying, TIAN Jun-qing. Fabrication and characterization of a multi-walled carbon nanotube-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. New Carbon Mater., 2015, 30(5): 391-396. doi: 10.1016/S1872-5805(15)60198-6
Citation: ZHENG Wei, QI Tao, ZHANG Yong-chao, SHI Hai-ying, TIAN Jun-qing. Fabrication and characterization of a multi-walled carbon nanotube-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. New Carbon Mater., 2015, 30(5): 391-396. doi: 10.1016/S1872-5805(15)60198-6

Fabrication and characterization of a multi-walled carbon nanotube-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

doi: 10.1016/S1872-5805(15)60198-6
Funds:  Project of Harbin Science and Technology Innovation Talents(2013RFXXJ004).
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  • Corresponding author: 郑威,博士,教授.E-mail:zhengwei1972@sina.com.
  • Received Date: 2015-06-28
  • Accepted Date: 2015-11-10
  • Rev Recd Date: 2015-09-29
  • Publish Date: 2015-10-28
  • A counter-electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was prepared by coating a slurry containing acid-oxidized multi-wall carbon nanotubes and nano-graphite powder onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide conducting glass substrate. The samples were characterized by SEM, TEM, EDS and IR spectroscopy. The CE performance in the DSSCs with MgO-doped TiO2 as the photoanode was investigated by measurements of current-voltage curves, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Results show that the cell with the CE exhibits the best photoelectric properties of all the carbon-based CEs investigated. The short-circuit current density (Jsc) is 4.67 mA/cm2, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) is 0.53 V and photoelectric conversion efficiency is up to 4.10%, which are comparable with those of the Pt-based CE in DSSCs.
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