Issue 15, 2012
From the journal:

Nanoscale

Enhanced performance in dye-sensitized solar cells via carbon nanofibers–platinum composite counter electrodes

Prashant Poudel,a   Lifeng Zhang,b   Prakash Joshi,a   Swaminathan Venkatesan,a   Hao Fong*b  and  Qiquan Qiao*a  

* Corresponding authors

a Center for Advanced Photovoltaics, Department of Electrical Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
E-mail: Qiquan.Qiquan@sdstate.edu
Fax: +1 605-688-4401
Tel: +1 605-688-6965

b Department of Chemistry, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 East Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
E-mail: Hao.Fong@sdsmt.edu
Fax: +1 605-394-1232
Tel: +1 605-394-1229

Abstract

A composite counter electrode (CE) made of electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNs) and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles has been demonstrated for the first time to improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The new ECN–Pt composite CE exhibited a more efficient electro-catalytic performance with lower charge transfer resistance (Rct), larger surface area, and faster reaction rate than those of conventional Pt. It reduced the overall series resistance (Rse), decreased dark saturation current density (J0) and increased shunt resistance (Rsh) of the DSCs, thereby leading to a higher fill factor (FF) and larger open circuit voltage (Voc). The reduced electron transport resistance (Rs) and faster charge transfer rate in the CE led to a smaller overall cell series resistance (Rse) in the ECN–Pt composite based DSCs. The DSCs based on an ECN–Pt CE achieved a η of ∼8%, which was improved over those of pure Pt or ECN based cells.

Graphical abstract: Enhanced performance in dye-sensitized solar cells via carbon nanofibers–platinum composite counter electrodes

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/C2NR30586K
Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Mar 2012
Accepted
06 Jun 2012
First published
13 Jun 2012

Nanoscale, 2012,4, 4726-4730

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Enhanced performance in dye-sensitized solar cells via carbon nanofibers–platinum composite counter electrodes

P. Poudel, L. Zhang, P. Joshi, S. Venkatesan, H. Fong and Q. Qiao, Nanoscale, 2012, 4, 4726 DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30586K

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