Quasi-solid-state Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Employing Fibers Stacked Paper Carbons as Efficient Counter Electrodes

doi:10.15541/jim20140248

Abstract

Abstract:

Three types of paper carbons (PCs) were introduced into quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) as counter electrodes. The PCs were respectively prepared using printed paper, filter paper and facial tissue as raw materials by one-step pyrolysis. Results show that each PC consists of carbon fibers with radial size of ~10 μm, and has low crystallinity as well as well-developed porous structure. As a result, each type of PC displays more excellent catalytic activity for tri-iodide () reduction than graphite, which brings about higher efficiency for use in QDSCs. In three PCs, PC fabricated from printed paper possesses the highest surface area and the most outstanding catalytic activity. This is mainly attributed to unique carbonaceous ramentums on carbon fibers in printed paper derived PC. Each type of PC in QDSCs not only provides catalytic active sites for reduction, but also serves distinctive function to improve the ion conductivity of quasi-solid-state electrolyte. Consequently, PCs based QDSCs have higher short-circuit current density (J_sc) and open-circuit voltage (V_oc) compared with traditional Pt based QDSCs. The higher J_scand V_occover the insufficiency of fill factor, resulting in comparable efficiencies with traditional Pt based QDSCs.

Key words: paper carbon, one-step pyrolysis, counter electrode, quasi-solid-state electrolyte, solar cells

CLC Number:

TM914

XU Shun-Jian, LUO Yu-Feng, ZHONG Wei, XIAO Zong-Hu, LOU Yong-Ping, OU Hui. Quasi-solid-state Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Employing Fibers Stacked Paper Carbons as Efficient Counter Electrodes[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2015, 30(1): 29-34.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of paper carbons derived from different paper

Fig. 2 SEM morphologies of paper carbons derived from different paper. (a) and (d): PC-P from printed paper; (b) and (e): PC-F from filter paper; (c) and (f): PC-T from facial tissue

Fig. 3 N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms of paper carbons derived from different paper

Fig. 4 EIS patterns of paper carbons and graphite counter electrodes

Table 1 Electrochemical performances of paper carbons and graphite counter electrodes

Electrode	R_ct/Ω	N_p/Ω	R_s/Ω	E_p/mV
PC-P	6.17	0.75	24.62	419
PC-F	40.42	0.39	23.24	454
PC-T	20.22	0.49	23.01	-
Graphite	156.46	0.23	27.54	685

Fig. 5 CVs for paper carbons and graphite counter electrodes

Fig. 6 J-V curves of QDSCs consisting of paper carbons and graphite counter electrodes. The insert shows the photo of the electrolyte for QDSCs

Table 2 Photovoltaic performances of QDSCs with paper carbons and graphite counter electrodes

Electrode	J_sc/(mA·cm^-2)	V_oc/V	FF	η/%
PC-P	14.48	0.678	0.527	5.17
PC-F	13.58	0.685	0.515	4.79
PC-T	14.64	0.673	0.506	4.99
Graphite	11.05	0.641	0.243	1.72

Fig. 7 J-V curve of QDSCs with Pt counter electrode. The insert shows the EIS pattern of Pt electrode

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