Carbon nanotube and graphite oxide surfaces modified with polyethylene oxide for dye-sensitized solar cells

In this study, the photovoltaic properties of the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were enhanced by the incorporation of the polyethylene oxide (PEO) intercalated graphite oxides sheets (GO-P) or PEO surface grafted carbon nanotubes (CNT-P) into the PEO gel electrolytes. The PEO modified carbon materials were served as the extended electron transfer materials, and the catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of I₃ ⁻. The ionic conductivity of PEO gel electrolyte was not significantly influenced by the incorporation of GO-P or CNT-P. Because of the high catalytic activities, the incorporation of GO-P or CNT-P into the gel electrolyte is favorable for decreasing the charge transfer and recombination resistances. Therefore, better PV performance was observed for the DSSCs based on the GO-P/PEO or CNT-P/PEO electrolytes as compared to the PEO electrolyte based DSSCs. The photoelectric conversion efficiencies of DSSCs were respectively enhanced by 19 % and 32 % via the incorporations of GO-P and CNT-P.