Effect of Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Counter Electrode on Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

摘要

The counter electrode is an important component in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) where themediator is reduced. It consists of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass coated with platinum to affordmore reversible electron transfer. In this research for increasing energy conversion efficiency ofDSSC, Multi-Walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used in counter electrode. Three types ofcounter electrode (CE) were fabricated: (i) All platinum counter electrodes (Pt-CE) (ii) All Multi- Walled carbon nanotube counter electrodes (MWCNT-CE) and (iii) Mixed Platinum and Multi-Walledcarbon nanotube counter electrodes (Pt-MWCNT-CE). All of counter electrodes prepared fabricatedon FTO glasses and cells were assembled by these electrodes and its performance was measured bysolar light simulator, their behavior were studied by cyclic voltammetry technique and their Structurewere studied by SEM. Results revealed that enhanced efficiency was obtained by using the Pt- MWCNT-CE. Also by using this electrode, the energy conversion efficiency increased up to about18% in comparison with standard DSSC. Pt-MWCNT-CE displayed the highest catalytic activity forthe reduction of tri-iodide ions and lowest transfer resistance in cyclic voltammetry tests whichimproves photovoltaic activity of cells.