Polypyrrole and Polypyrrole-Multi Wall Carbon Nanotube for Alternative Counter Electrodes in Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

• Published in: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Vol. 620; no. 1; pp. 71 - 77
• Main Authors: Suersh, Thogiti, Thanh Thuy, Chau Thi, Kang, Ji Yoon, Yoo, Eun Joo, Ahn, Kwang-Soon, Shin, Boo Young, Lee, Seung Woo, Kim, Jae Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 01.11.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Carbon; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Electrodes; Energy efficiency; Nanotubes; Photovoltaic cells; photovoltaic performance; Polymers; polypyrrole counter electrode; polypyrrole/multi wall carbon nanotube counter electrode; Pt counter electrode
• ISSN: 1542-1406; 1563-5287; 1527-1943
• DOI: 10.1080/15421406.2015.1094870

In our present study, the composite film of PPy/MWCNT (polypyrrole and multi-wall carbon nanotubes) and PPy were proposed as counter electrodes (CEs) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to replace the precious Pt CE. The PPy and PPy/MWCNT composite films were fabricated on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates by using a facile electrochemical polymerization route, and served as CEs in DSSCs. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel measurements revealed that the PPy/MWCNT CE possessed more excellent electrocatalytic activity and lower charge transfer resistance of 171.06 Ω in comparison with a PPy CE (338.6 Ω). The DSSC assembled with the PPy/MWCNT CE exhibited a better power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.17% under the illumination of 100 mW cm 2 , comparable to that of the DSSC based on reference Pt CE (6.86%). Compared with a DSSC using PPy CE with PCE of 3.45%, the PCE of DSSC using PPy/MWCNT CE was increased by 20%. Therefore, the PPy/MWCNT composite film can be considered as a promising alternative CE for DSSC due to its high electrocatalytic performance and excellent electrochemical stability.