Carbon-Based Counter Electrode: A Low-Cost Counter Electrode for Better Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer a compelling substitute owing to their straightforward fabrication process, minimal material demands, and capability to function effectively in low light conditions. Conventionally, platinum (Pt) serves as the counter electrode (CE) in high-performance DSSCs. However, the relatively high cost of Pt remains a concern, necessitating the exploration of cost-effective CEs that can match or exceed the conversion efficiency of Pt-based CEs. This study focuses on the synthesis of various low-cost CEs, such as candle flame, and carbon shoot (CS) for high-performance DSSCs, with Pt-based CE used as a benchmark for comparison. The working electrode (WE) comprised TiO₂ deposited onto Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. The resulting DSSCs utilizing different carbon shoot CEs exhibited an efficiency of 3.3%, nearly comparable to that of Pt-based CEs. Additionally, the low series resistance positively impacted the fill factor, contributing to an overall improvement in conversion efficiency. These findings suggest that low-cost carbon-based CEs possess the potential to enhance conversion efficiency and may emerge as viable alternatives to Pt-based CEs.