Abstract:
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 TiO
2 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/cm
2, 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.