TY - JOUR
T1 - Performance Enhancement of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Utilizing Carbon Nanotubes as an Electrolyte-Treating Agent
AU - Liu, I. Ping
AU - Wang, Li Wei
AU - Chen, Yun Yu
AU - Cho, Yu Syuan
AU - Teng, Hsisheng
AU - Lee, Yuh Lang
N1 - Funding Information:
This study is financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of China under the projects MOST 106-2221-E-006-197-MY3, 107-2119-M-006-001, and 107-2811-M-006-546. The authors gratefully acknowledge the use of electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) provided by the Instrument Center of National Cheng Kung University. The authors also thank Yu-Chen Luo and Chung-Yu Chien for conducting spectral experiments and Ming-Hsiang Tsai for a helpful discussion.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society.
PY - 2020/1/21
Y1 - 2020/1/21
N2 - A new carbon nanotube (CNT) function is proposed herein for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. In this study, single-wall CNT is used as a treating agent to conventional liquid electrolytes, which differs from the role of a gelator or an additive as reported in the literature. The experimental results show that the electrochemical properties of the electrolytes do not alter significantly after the CNT treatment; however, the conversion efficiencies of the DSSCs are evidently improved (from 8.15% to 8.70%), which is attributed mainly to the enhanced open-circuit voltages. Device characterizations indicate that the higher voltages are due to the suppression of charge recombination at the TiO2/electrolyte interface. Furthermore, based on the Raman and ultraviolet-visible spectra of the electrolytes, the concentrations of triiodide and higher polyiodide species are reduced after the CNT treatment. The Raman and XPS spectral results further verify the adsorption of polyiodides on the CNTs. More importantly, because fewer polyiodides are present in the electrolyte, fewer electrons in the TiO2 can be recombined; therefore, higher voltages are achieved for the corresponding cells. Quasi-solid-state DSSCs fabricated using CNT-treated electrolytes also demonstrate better cell performance. This CNT effect is anticipated to facilitate the progress of DSSCs.
AB - A new carbon nanotube (CNT) function is proposed herein for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. In this study, single-wall CNT is used as a treating agent to conventional liquid electrolytes, which differs from the role of a gelator or an additive as reported in the literature. The experimental results show that the electrochemical properties of the electrolytes do not alter significantly after the CNT treatment; however, the conversion efficiencies of the DSSCs are evidently improved (from 8.15% to 8.70%), which is attributed mainly to the enhanced open-circuit voltages. Device characterizations indicate that the higher voltages are due to the suppression of charge recombination at the TiO2/electrolyte interface. Furthermore, based on the Raman and ultraviolet-visible spectra of the electrolytes, the concentrations of triiodide and higher polyiodide species are reduced after the CNT treatment. The Raman and XPS spectral results further verify the adsorption of polyiodides on the CNTs. More importantly, because fewer polyiodides are present in the electrolyte, fewer electrons in the TiO2 can be recombined; therefore, higher voltages are achieved for the corresponding cells. Quasi-solid-state DSSCs fabricated using CNT-treated electrolytes also demonstrate better cell performance. This CNT effect is anticipated to facilitate the progress of DSSCs.
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U2 - 10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b06003
DO - 10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b06003
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85078676460
SN - 2168-0485
VL - 8
SP - 1102
EP - 1111
JO - ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
JF - ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
IS - 2
ER -
