Efficient and cost-effective dye-sensitized solar cells using MWCNT-TiO2 nanocomposite as photoanode and MWCNT as Pt-free counter electrode

M. Younas; M. A. Gondal; M. A. Dastageer; K. Harrabi

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2019.07.009

Efficient and cost-effective dye-sensitized solar cells using MWCNT-TiO₂ nanocomposite as photoanode and MWCNT as Pt-free counter electrode

M. Younas, M. A. Gondal^*, M. A. Dastageer, K. Harrabi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the present study, a new cost-effective and efficient configuration [n-MWCNT-TiO₂/N3/MWCNT] of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is proposed and fabricated, where n-MWCNT-TiO₂ is the nano composite of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) in different mass proportions, sensitized by N3 dye used as a photo anode, and MWCNT is the material for the counter electrode. In the [n-MWCNT-TiO₂/N3/MWCNT] configuration, the photo anode with four mass proportions (n = 0.03%, 0.06%, 0.09% and 0.12%) were used as a design variant, and it was found that the photovoltaic efficiency as high as 7.15% was achieved when the nano composite of 0.06%-MWCNT-TiO₂ was applied as a photoanode in the proposed DSSC configuration. Besides achieving a 13% photovoltaic efficiency enhancement compared to the ubiquitous [TiO₂/N3/Pt] DSSC configuration, the replacement of Pt with inexpensive MWCNT in the [n-MWCNT-TiO₂/N3/MWCNT] DSSC ensures the cost effectiveness of the proposed configuration. The morphological and optical characterization of the n-MWCNT-TiO₂ photoanode (nanocomposite) films, the stability and catalytic activity of MWCNT counter electrode, UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy, current-voltage characteristics, incident photon to electron conversion efficiency and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the fabricated DSSCs were performed in order to elucidate the improved performance of the [n-MWCNT-TiO₂/N3/MWCNT] configuration. Based on these characterization studies, it was found that the observed enhancement of light absorbance in the visible spectral region, the improved electron transportation, decreased recombination of electrons with oxidized dye and redox mediator, better catalytic activity of MWCNT counter electrode are the key contributory factors for the increased photovoltaic efficiency of the [n-MWCNT-TiO₂/N3/MWCNT] DSSC configuration.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1178-1188
Number of pages	11
Journal	Solar Energy
Volume	188
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.07.009
State	Published - Aug 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We acknowledge the Deanship of Scientific Research, KFUPM, Saudi Arabia for supporting this work under the project# RG-161002 and also, we would like to thank Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy (CoRE-RE), Saudi Arabia for rendering their facilities for characterization studies. MAG acknowledges the funding support provided by the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE), Saudi Arabia under KACARE182-RFP-02 project.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 International Solar Energy Society

Keywords

DSSC
Efficiency
Electrochemical
Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)
Photovoltaic
Renewable energy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Materials Science (all)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.solener.2019.07.009

Cite this

@article{edd757c996014196943371f5199576f6,

title = "Efficient and cost-effective dye-sensitized solar cells using MWCNT-TiO2 nanocomposite as photoanode and MWCNT as Pt-free counter electrode",

abstract = "In the present study, a new cost-effective and efficient configuration [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is proposed and fabricated, where n-MWCNT-TiO2 is the nano composite of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) in different mass proportions, sensitized by N3 dye used as a photo anode, and MWCNT is the material for the counter electrode. In the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] configuration, the photo anode with four mass proportions (n = 0.03%, 0.06%, 0.09% and 0.12%) were used as a design variant, and it was found that the photovoltaic efficiency as high as 7.15% was achieved when the nano composite of 0.06%-MWCNT-TiO2 was applied as a photoanode in the proposed DSSC configuration. Besides achieving a 13% photovoltaic efficiency enhancement compared to the ubiquitous [TiO2/N3/Pt] DSSC configuration, the replacement of Pt with inexpensive MWCNT in the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] DSSC ensures the cost effectiveness of the proposed configuration. The morphological and optical characterization of the n-MWCNT-TiO2 photoanode (nanocomposite) films, the stability and catalytic activity of MWCNT counter electrode, UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy, current-voltage characteristics, incident photon to electron conversion efficiency and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the fabricated DSSCs were performed in order to elucidate the improved performance of the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] configuration. Based on these characterization studies, it was found that the observed enhancement of light absorbance in the visible spectral region, the improved electron transportation, decreased recombination of electrons with oxidized dye and redox mediator, better catalytic activity of MWCNT counter electrode are the key contributory factors for the increased photovoltaic efficiency of the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] DSSC configuration.",

keywords = "DSSC, Efficiency, Electrochemical, Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), Photovoltaic, Renewable energy",

author = "M. Younas and Gondal, {M. A.} and Dastageer, {M. A.} and K. Harrabi",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge the Deanship of Scientific Research, KFUPM, Saudi Arabia for supporting this work under the project# RG-161002 and also, we would like to thank Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy (CoRE-RE), Saudi Arabia for rendering their facilities for characterization studies. MAG acknowledges the funding support provided by the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE), Saudi Arabia under KACARE182-RFP-02 project. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 International Solar Energy Society",

year = "2019",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.solener.2019.07.009",

language = "English",

volume = "188",

pages = "1178--1188",

journal = "Solar Energy",

issn = "0038-092X",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Efficient and cost-effective dye-sensitized solar cells using MWCNT-TiO2 nanocomposite as photoanode and MWCNT as Pt-free counter electrode

AU - Younas, M.

AU - Gondal, M. A.

AU - Dastageer, M. A.

AU - Harrabi, K.

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge the Deanship of Scientific Research, KFUPM, Saudi Arabia for supporting this work under the project# RG-161002 and also, we would like to thank Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy (CoRE-RE), Saudi Arabia for rendering their facilities for characterization studies. MAG acknowledges the funding support provided by the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE), Saudi Arabia under KACARE182-RFP-02 project. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 International Solar Energy Society

PY - 2019/8

Y1 - 2019/8

N2 - In the present study, a new cost-effective and efficient configuration [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is proposed and fabricated, where n-MWCNT-TiO2 is the nano composite of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) in different mass proportions, sensitized by N3 dye used as a photo anode, and MWCNT is the material for the counter electrode. In the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] configuration, the photo anode with four mass proportions (n = 0.03%, 0.06%, 0.09% and 0.12%) were used as a design variant, and it was found that the photovoltaic efficiency as high as 7.15% was achieved when the nano composite of 0.06%-MWCNT-TiO2 was applied as a photoanode in the proposed DSSC configuration. Besides achieving a 13% photovoltaic efficiency enhancement compared to the ubiquitous [TiO2/N3/Pt] DSSC configuration, the replacement of Pt with inexpensive MWCNT in the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] DSSC ensures the cost effectiveness of the proposed configuration. The morphological and optical characterization of the n-MWCNT-TiO2 photoanode (nanocomposite) films, the stability and catalytic activity of MWCNT counter electrode, UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy, current-voltage characteristics, incident photon to electron conversion efficiency and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the fabricated DSSCs were performed in order to elucidate the improved performance of the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] configuration. Based on these characterization studies, it was found that the observed enhancement of light absorbance in the visible spectral region, the improved electron transportation, decreased recombination of electrons with oxidized dye and redox mediator, better catalytic activity of MWCNT counter electrode are the key contributory factors for the increased photovoltaic efficiency of the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] DSSC configuration.

AB - In the present study, a new cost-effective and efficient configuration [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is proposed and fabricated, where n-MWCNT-TiO2 is the nano composite of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) in different mass proportions, sensitized by N3 dye used as a photo anode, and MWCNT is the material for the counter electrode. In the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] configuration, the photo anode with four mass proportions (n = 0.03%, 0.06%, 0.09% and 0.12%) were used as a design variant, and it was found that the photovoltaic efficiency as high as 7.15% was achieved when the nano composite of 0.06%-MWCNT-TiO2 was applied as a photoanode in the proposed DSSC configuration. Besides achieving a 13% photovoltaic efficiency enhancement compared to the ubiquitous [TiO2/N3/Pt] DSSC configuration, the replacement of Pt with inexpensive MWCNT in the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] DSSC ensures the cost effectiveness of the proposed configuration. The morphological and optical characterization of the n-MWCNT-TiO2 photoanode (nanocomposite) films, the stability and catalytic activity of MWCNT counter electrode, UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy, current-voltage characteristics, incident photon to electron conversion efficiency and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the fabricated DSSCs were performed in order to elucidate the improved performance of the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] configuration. Based on these characterization studies, it was found that the observed enhancement of light absorbance in the visible spectral region, the improved electron transportation, decreased recombination of electrons with oxidized dye and redox mediator, better catalytic activity of MWCNT counter electrode are the key contributory factors for the increased photovoltaic efficiency of the [n-MWCNT-TiO2/N3/MWCNT] DSSC configuration.

KW - DSSC

KW - Efficiency

KW - Electrochemical

KW - Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)

KW - Photovoltaic

KW - Renewable energy

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