Pure Appl. Chem., 2011, Vol. 83, No. 11, pp. 2089-2106
http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/PAC-CON-11-04-03
Published online 2011-08-24
Porous carbon layers for counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells: Recent advances and a new screen-printing method
Abstract:
We review the recent literature on carbon catalyst layers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), and then report an improved fabrication method for screen-printed carbon counter electrodes. The carbon-printing ink was prepared by mixing carbon black, TiO2 nanoparticles, α-terpineol, and ethyl cellulose using a mortar, an ultrasonic homogenizer, and a rotary evaporator. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the resulting screen-printed carbon layers were flatter and smoother at nano- and micro-scales than a carbon layer prepared using water-based ink. The photovoltaic performance of the screen-printed catalyst layers was similar to the photoenergy conversion of platinum counter electrodes. The highest cell efficiency with a carbon counter electrode was 7.11 % at a light intensity of 100 mW cm-2.
Keywords
carbon nanotubes; dye-sensitized solar cells; platinum; porous carbon; scanning electron microscopy (SEM); screen printing.