Use of single wall nanohorns as counter electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Rui Cruz (Author) FEUP; Lúcia Brandão (Author) FEUP; Adélio Mendes (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: International Journal of Energy Research

Pages: 1498-1508

ISSN: 0363-907X

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 18 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 20 Citations

INSPEC

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

Associated Projects

SolarSel - Desenvolvimento de um sistema inovador de selagem e montagem de DSC

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-6M6

DOI: 10.1002/er.2959

Abstract (EN): The catalytic activity of single-wall carbon nanohorns (SWNH) as counter electrodes (CE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) was studied for the iodide/triiodide redox reaction. The catalytic activities of SWNH and high surface SWNH (HS-SWNH) obtained by partial oxidation of SWNH were assessed based on charge-transfer resistances (Rct) and current¿voltage curves. A half-cell configuration was used, and CE performances were compared to CEs made of carbon black (CB) and Pt. A CE assembled with HS-SWNH and mixed with 10 wt.% of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) - HS-SWNH/HEC was found to have the highest electrocatalytic activity (lowest Rct) among all the carbon-based CEs tested when annealed at 180
C (Rct = 141 ¿ cm2 ); however, a very thick film (several tens of mm) would be required in order to perform comparably to a Pt CE. The annealing of such CE at higher temperatures (above 400
C) did not improve its catalytic activity, contrary to the other studied carbonaceous CEs. The redox catalytic activity of SWNH and HS-SWNH decorated with Pt was also studied on a half-cell configuration and compared to that of Pt/CB and pristine Pt. The Pt/SWNH/HEC CE showed the highest electrocatalytic activity per mass of Pt, needing just 50% of Pt load to yield the same electrocatalytic activity of a DSC equipped with a Pt CE, but having half of its transparency. Additionally, applications in temperature-sensitive substrates are envisioned for the Pt/SWNH/HEC CE due to the use of lower annealing temperatures.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11