Applications of cu@C Nanoparticles in new dye-sensitized solar cells

To enhance the efficiency of a newly developing dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), the Cu@C (Cu size = 7 and 20 nm) core-shell nanoparticles-dispersed molten salt-conjugated electrolyte has been studied. Experimentally, the efficiencies (n) of the DSSC are in the range of 2.70-4.09% with a short-circuit photocurrent density (J SC) of 5.775-9.910 mA/ cm 2. Interestingly, it is found that dispersion of 1% of the Cu@C (Cu size = 7 nm) nanoparticles in the molten salt-(1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (DMPII)) conjugated electrolyte results in an enhancement (about 11%) of the n (4.06%). Greater fractions (3-10%) of the Cu@C nanoparticles dispersed in the molten salt cause a poor performance (lower J SC and n) of the DSSC possibly due to interference of the internal electron transportation routes in the DSSC by oxidation of Cu with I 2 originally in the electrolyte.