Hybrid TiO2-multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) photoanodes for efficient dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

Umer Mehmood; Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein; Khalil Harrabi; M. B. Mekki; Shakeel Ahmed; Nouar Tabet

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2015.04.004

Hybrid TiO₂-multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) photoanodes for efficient dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

Umer Mehmood, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein^*, Khalil Harrabi, M. B. Mekki, Shakeel Ahmed, Nouar Tabet

^*Corresponding author for this work

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

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on TiO₂/MWCNTs composite with varying concentrations of CNTs (0, 0.03. 0.06, 0.09, 0.15, and 0.21 wt%), fabricated using N3 dye as a sensitizer. Transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in TiO₂. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, photocurrent-voltage characteristics, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements were conducted to characterize the DSSCs. The results show that the photo conversion efficiency is highly dependent on the concentration of CNTs in the photoanode. A solar cell based on a photoanode containing 0.03 wt% MWCNTs has a power conversion efficiency which is about 30% greater than that of the unmodified photoanode. A quantum modeling technique based on the density functional theory was used to investigate the thermodynamic aspects of the charge transport processes in DSSCs. Simulation results support the experimental data.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	174-179
Number of pages	6
Journal	Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume	140
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.04.004
State	Published - 1 Sep 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the support provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) through the Science & Technology Unit at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals ( KFUPM ) for funding this work through Project #11-ENE1635-04 as part of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Plan. KFUPM (Project #11-ENE1635-04 ) is also acknowledged for supporting this research. The authors would like to acknowledge the Center of Research Excellence for Renewable Energy at KFUPM.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

DSSC
Density functional theory
Hybrid photoanodes
MWCNT

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Surfaces, Coatings and Films

UN SDGs

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

Access to Document

10.1016/j.solmat.2015.04.004

Cite this

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title = "Hybrid TiO2-multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) photoanodes for efficient dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)",

abstract = "Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on TiO2/MWCNTs composite with varying concentrations of CNTs (0, 0.03. 0.06, 0.09, 0.15, and 0.21 wt%), fabricated using N3 dye as a sensitizer. Transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in TiO2. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, photocurrent-voltage characteristics, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements were conducted to characterize the DSSCs. The results show that the photo conversion efficiency is highly dependent on the concentration of CNTs in the photoanode. A solar cell based on a photoanode containing 0.03 wt% MWCNTs has a power conversion efficiency which is about 30% greater than that of the unmodified photoanode. A quantum modeling technique based on the density functional theory was used to investigate the thermodynamic aspects of the charge transport processes in DSSCs. Simulation results support the experimental data.",

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author = "Umer Mehmood and Hussein, {Ibnelwaleed A.} and Khalil Harrabi and Mekki, {M. B.} and Shakeel Ahmed and Nouar Tabet",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the support provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) through the Science & Technology Unit at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals ( KFUPM ) for funding this work through Project #11-ENE1635-04 as part of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Plan. KFUPM (Project #11-ENE1635-04 ) is also acknowledged for supporting this research. The authors would like to acknowledge the Center of Research Excellence for Renewable Energy at KFUPM. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.",

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AU - Hussein, Ibnelwaleed A.

AU - Harrabi, Khalil

AU - Mekki, M. B.

AU - Ahmed, Shakeel

AU - Tabet, Nouar

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the support provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) through the Science & Technology Unit at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals ( KFUPM ) for funding this work through Project #11-ENE1635-04 as part of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Plan. KFUPM (Project #11-ENE1635-04 ) is also acknowledged for supporting this research. The authors would like to acknowledge the Center of Research Excellence for Renewable Energy at KFUPM. Publisher Copyright: © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/9/1

Y1 - 2015/9/1

N2 - Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on TiO2/MWCNTs composite with varying concentrations of CNTs (0, 0.03. 0.06, 0.09, 0.15, and 0.21 wt%), fabricated using N3 dye as a sensitizer. Transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in TiO2. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, photocurrent-voltage characteristics, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements were conducted to characterize the DSSCs. The results show that the photo conversion efficiency is highly dependent on the concentration of CNTs in the photoanode. A solar cell based on a photoanode containing 0.03 wt% MWCNTs has a power conversion efficiency which is about 30% greater than that of the unmodified photoanode. A quantum modeling technique based on the density functional theory was used to investigate the thermodynamic aspects of the charge transport processes in DSSCs. Simulation results support the experimental data.

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