TY - JOUR
T1 - High performance carbon black counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells
AU - Wu, Chia Shing
AU - Chang, Ting Wei
AU - Teng, Hsisheng
AU - Lee, Yuh Lang
N1 - Funding Information:
Support of this research by the Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan ( 103-2119-M-006-019 ) and the Research Center for Energy Technology and Strategy of National Cheng Kung University is gratefully acknowledged.
PY - 2016/11/15
Y1 - 2016/11/15
N2 - Carbon black (CB) thin films are prepared using a doctor blade process and utilized as counter electrodes (CEs) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is used as a binder to regulate the viscosity of the CB paste to facilitate the doctor blade process. The PVDF is then removed via thermal treatment at 350 or 450 °C. The effects of CB composition (8-15 wt%) and the heat-treatment temperature on the electrochemical properties of the CB electrodes are studied, as well as on the performance of the corresponding DSSCs. The results show that, after the heat treatment, all CB films demonstrate a mesoporous structure. Film thickness increases with increased CB concentration. CB films heat-treated at 350 °C exhibit low electrochemical activity, high charge transfer resistance, and poor performance when utilized in DSSCs. These results are attributed to the presence of residual PVDF. By elevating the treating temperature to 450 °C, PVDF is completely removed and the electrochemical properties of the resultant CB films resemble closely those of platinum (Pt) film. The DSSCs using these CB CEs achieve conversion efficiencies (8.27–8.35%) comparable to cells using Pt (8.29%).
AB - Carbon black (CB) thin films are prepared using a doctor blade process and utilized as counter electrodes (CEs) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is used as a binder to regulate the viscosity of the CB paste to facilitate the doctor blade process. The PVDF is then removed via thermal treatment at 350 or 450 °C. The effects of CB composition (8-15 wt%) and the heat-treatment temperature on the electrochemical properties of the CB electrodes are studied, as well as on the performance of the corresponding DSSCs. The results show that, after the heat treatment, all CB films demonstrate a mesoporous structure. Film thickness increases with increased CB concentration. CB films heat-treated at 350 °C exhibit low electrochemical activity, high charge transfer resistance, and poor performance when utilized in DSSCs. These results are attributed to the presence of residual PVDF. By elevating the treating temperature to 450 °C, PVDF is completely removed and the electrochemical properties of the resultant CB films resemble closely those of platinum (Pt) film. The DSSCs using these CB CEs achieve conversion efficiencies (8.27–8.35%) comparable to cells using Pt (8.29%).
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84987936769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84987936769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.energy.2016.09.052
DO - 10.1016/j.energy.2016.09.052
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84987936769
VL - 115
SP - 513
EP - 518
JO - Energy
JF - Energy
SN - 0360-5442
ER -