Electrocatalytic SiC Nanoparticles/PEDOT: PSS Composite Thin Films as the Counter Electrodes of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Journal
ChemElectroChem
Journal Volume
1
Journal Issue
6
Pages
1031-1039
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
A composite film consisting of silicon carbide nanoparticles and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (SiC-NPs/PEDOT:PSS) is deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate and used as the counter electrode (CE) material for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The content of SiC is optimized to be 5wt% with respect to PEDOT:PSS to obtain the best power conversion efficiency (η) of 7.25% for the pertinent DSSC. The η of the best DSSC (7.25%) is found to be slightly lower than that of the cell with a sputtered-Pt CE (η=7.98%). The films are characterized by using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Electrocatalytic parameters of the CEs are obtained by using cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk electrode, and Tafel polarization curves. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency curves are used to substantiate the photovoltaic parameter. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Subjects
Carbides; Counter electrodes; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Energy conversion; Rotating disk electrode
SDGs
Other Subjects
Carbides; Composite films; Conducting polymers; Conversion efficiency; Cyclic voltammetry; Electrochemical electrodes; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrodes; Energy conversion; Energy dispersive spectroscopy; Field emission microscopes; Nanocomposite films; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanostructured materials; Rotating disks; Scanning electron microscopy; Silicon carbide; Solar cells; Thin films; Tin oxides; X ray spectroscopy; Counter electrodes; Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy; Field emission scanning electron microscopy; Incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies; Poly(3 ,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate); Power conversion efficiencies; Rotating disk electrodes; Tafel polarization curves; Dye-sensitized solar cells
Type
journal article