Abstract
The replacement of the expensive Pt counter electrode (CE) for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ss-DSSCs) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is necessary to reduce cell fabrication cost. With this objective, two CE films PPy + SDS (polypyrrole + sodium dodecyl sulfate as a surfactant), and PPy + SDS + CNT (carbon nanotubes) were prepared by a simple electrochemical polymerization method. These films were effectively used as the CE in DSSCs and ss-DSSCs. Tafel curves and impedance spectroscopy data showed that the PPy + SDS + CNT has a low surface resistance, which causes excellent electrocatalytic activity in both devices. DSSCs with a PPy + SDS + CNT CE show good power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to ss-DSSCs. Both devices show comparable PEC to the Pt counterpart, and the PPy + SDS + CNT film can be used as a CE for DSSCs and ss-DSSCs and is a viable alternative to a sputtered Pt electrode.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ellis H, Vlachopoulos N, Häggman L, Perruchot C, Jouini M, Boschloo G, Hagfeldt A (2013) PEDOT counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells prepared by aqueous micellar electrodeposition. Electrochim Acta 107:45–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2013.06.005
Gemeiner P, Kulicek J, Mikula M, Hatala M, Švorcc L, Hlavatá L, Micušík M, Omastová M (2015) Polypyrrole-coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the simple preparation of counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Synth Met 210:323–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synthmet.2015.10.020
Hagfeldt A, Boschloo G, Sun L, Kloo L, Pettersson H (2010) Dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Rev 110:6595–6663. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr900356p
Han G, Yuan J, Shi G, Wei F (2004) Electrodeposition of polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotube composite films. Thin Solid Films 474:64–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2004.08.011
He B, Tang Q, Luo J et al (2014) Rapid charge-transfer in polypyrrole- single wall carbon nanotube complex counter electrodes: improved photovoltaic performances of dye- sensitized solar cells. J Power Sources 256:170–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.01.072
Ho P, Bao LQ, Ahn K-S, Cheruku R, Kim JH (2016) P-Type dye-sensitized solar cells: enhanced performance with a NiO compact blocking layer. Synth Met 217:314–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synthmet.2016.04.006
Kim DW, Cheruku R, Suresh T, Koyyada G, Ho P, Kim JH (2018) The effect of difference molar ratios of dibromo-EDOT as hole transporting material for solid state dye-sensitized solar cells. J Inorg Organomet Polym 28:2871–2874. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-018-0915-7
Kuliček J, Gemeiner P, Omastová M, Mičušík M (2018) Preparation of polypyrrole/multi-walled carbon nanotube hybrids by electropolymerization combined with a coating method for counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Pap 72:1651–1667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-018-0476-9
Luo J, Niu HJ, Wen HL et al (2013) Enhancement of the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell with multi-wall carbon nanotubes/polypyrrole composite counter electrodes prepared by electrophoresis/electrochemical polymerization. Mater Res Bull 48:988–994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2012.11.092
Nam JG, Park YJ, Lee Kim BS JS (2010) Enhancement of the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell by utilizing carbon nanotube counter electrode. Sci Mater 62:148–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2009.10.008
O’Regan B, Gratzel M (1991) Synthesis and characterization of metal organic chemical vapour deposited copper titanium oxide (Cu–Ti–O) thin films from single solid source precursor. Nature 353:737–740. https://doi.org/10.1038/353737a0
Peng S, Wu Y, Zhu P, Thavasi V, Mhaisalkar SG, Ramakrishna S (2011) Facile fabrication of polypyrrole/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite as counter electrodes in low-cost dye-sensitized solar cells. J Photochem Photobiol A 223:97–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2011.08.004
Peng T, Sun W, Huang C, Yu W, Sebo B, Dai Z, Guo S, Zhao XZ (2014) Self-assembled free-standing polypyrrole nanotube membrane as an efficient FTO- and Pt-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 6:14–17. https://doi.org/10.1021/am404265q
Suresh T, Thuy CTT, Park JY, Yoo EJ, Ahn KS, Shin BY, Lee SW, Kim JH (2015) Polypyrrole and polypyrrole-multi wall carbon nanotube for alternative counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Mol Cryst Liq Cryst 620:71–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/15421406.2015.1094870
Thombare JV, Lohar GM, Shinde SK, Dhasade SS, Rath MC, Fulari VJ (2015) Synthesis, characterization and surface wettability study of polypyrrole films: effect of applied constant current density. Electron Mater Lett 11:266–270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13391-014-4082-x
Vijayakumar E, Subramania A, Fei Z, Dysonb PJ (2015a) High-performance dye-sensitized solar cell based on an electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride-cohexafluoropropylene)/cobalt sulfide nanocomposite membrane electrolyte. RSC Adv 5:52026. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA04944J
Vijayakumar E, Murugadoss V, Subramania A, Fei Z, Dysonb PJ (2015b) Development of a conjugated polyaniline incorporated electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) composite membrane electrolyte for high performance dye-sensitized solar cells. J Appl Polym Sci 132:42777. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.42777
Vijayakumar E, Subramania A, Fei Z, Dysonb PJ (2015c) Effect of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide containing electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) membrane electrolyte on the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. J Appl Polym Sci 132:42032. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.42032
Wang WY, Ting PN, Luo SH, Lin JY (2014) Pulse-reversal electropolymerization of polypyrrole on functionalized carbon nanotubes as composite counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 137:721–727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2014.06.028
Weng B, Shepherd RL, Crowley K et al (2010) Printing conducting polymers. Analyst 135:2779–2789. https://doi.org/10.1039/c0an00302f
Xiao Y, Lin JY, Wang WY, Tai SY, Yue G, Wu J (2013) Enhanced performance of low-cost dye-sensitized solar cells with pulse-electropolymerized polyaniline counter electrodes. Electrochim Acta 90:468–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2012.12.055
Zhou YK, He BL, Zhou WJ, Li HL (2004) Preparation and electrochemistry of SWNT/PANI composite films for electrochemical capacitors. J Electrochem Soc 151:A1052–A1057. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1758812
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea (No. 20163010012310). This work was supported by “Human Resources Program in Energy Technology” of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), granted financial resource from the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Republic of Korea (No. 20174030201760).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, J.H., Jang, Y.J., Kim, D.W. et al. Application of polypyrrole/sodium dodecyl sulfate/carbon nanotube counter electrode for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells and dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem. Pap. 73, 2749–2755 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-019-00827-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-019-00827-5