Enhanced Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Activated Carbons

Photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells having counter electrodes of different activated carbons (coconut shells (CC), pine trees (PN) and coals (CL)) was compared with each other and also with the performance of DSSC having conventional Pt counter electrode. The counter electrodes prepared by dispersing activated carbons in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose through grinding and subsequent ultrasonication and fabricated on fluorine doped tinoxide (FTO) glass by the D-blade method. The activated carbons showed good adhesion to substrates. The DSSCs with activated carbons counter electrodes exhibited a good light-to-electricity conversion efficiency which was also comparable with that of conventional platinum (Pt) counter electrode. The DSSCs with CC and PN activated carbon counter electrode exhibited a good performances due to their large surface area. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) values of CC and PN are 1, 111.32 m² g⁻¹ and 963.03 m² g⁻¹, respectively. In contrast, DSSC with the CL counter electrode showed a negative performance for its small surface area. The BET value of CL is 754.12 m² g⁻¹. The good photovoltaic performances of these DSSCs were found to be related to the excellent electrochemical catalysis of the activated carbons on the redox of the iodide/tri-iodie complex, as shown by AC impedance spectroscopy.