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Multi-wall carbon nanotube counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells prepared by electrophoretic deposition

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Abstract

In this study, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was employed to fabricate multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Firstly, raw MWCNTs were functionalized by means of an acid mixture solution and then subjected to EPD. The results obtained from Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscope, and cyclic voltammogram demonstrated that the defects and open ends on the MWCNTs can be obtained via chemical functionalization and thus facilitate the enhancement in the electrocatalytic activity for I −3 reduction of MWCNT CEs. In addition to optimizing chemical functionalization of MWCNTs surface, the optimal thickness of MWCNT CEs prepared by EPD was also investigated. Additionally, consecutive cyclic voltammetric tests demonstrated that the MWCNT CE fabricated by EPD possessed excellent electrochemical stability. In comparison with MWCNT CEs fabricated by tape-casting approach, MWCNT CEs prepared by EPD presented a superior adhesion between MWCNT deposits and conducting glass substrates. Therefore, MWCNT CEs fabricated by EPD can be of great potential for use in low-cost plastic DSSCs.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the National Science Council in Taiwan for its financial support under Contract No. NSC-100-2221-E-036-022. We also express our thanks to Dr. Wei in Tripod Technology Corporation for his helpful discussion and partly material support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Tatung University, Taipei, 104, Taiwan

    Jeng-Yu Lin & Shu-Wei Chou

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan

    Chih-Heng Lien

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  1. Jeng-Yu Lin
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  2. Chih-Heng Lien
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  3. Shu-Wei Chou
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Correspondence to Jeng-Yu Lin.

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Lin, JY., Lien, CH. & Chou, SW. Multi-wall carbon nanotube counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells prepared by electrophoretic deposition. J Solid State Electrochem 16, 1415–1421 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-011-1541-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-011-1541-2

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