Tsai, Y.-L.Y.-L.TsaiLi, C.-T.C.-T.LiHuang, T.-Y.T.-Y.HuangLee, C.-T.C.-T.LeeLin, C.-Y.C.-Y.LinChu, C.-W.C.-W.ChuVittal, R.R.VittalHo, K.-C.K.-C.HoKUO-CHUAN HO2018-09-102018-09-102014http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84925741255&partnerID=MN8TOARShttp://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/385400A 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.Carbides; Counter electrodes; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Energy conversion; Rotating disk electrode[SDGs]SDG7Carbides; 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 cellsjournal article10.1002/celc.201300242