Graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

The counter electrode is one of the most critical components in the dyesensitized solar cell (DSSC). It catalyzes the reduction of iodide/tri-iodide in the electrolyte, bringing the electrons from external loads connected to the cells. A conventional platinum counter electrode is extensively used...

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Main Author: Yusuf, Yusnita
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118469/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118469/1/118469.pdf
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author Yusuf, Yusnita
author_facet Yusuf, Yusnita
author_sort Yusuf, Yusnita
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The counter electrode is one of the most critical components in the dyesensitized solar cell (DSSC). It catalyzes the reduction of iodide/tri-iodide in the electrolyte, bringing the electrons from external loads connected to the cells. A conventional platinum counter electrode is extensively used; however, the concern with platinum-based is that expose to corrosion in an iodine-based electrolyte, which affects the long-term stability of the cell. Therefore, using the carbon-based material to replace the platinum-based in DSSC can address the mentioned problems. This work synthesized a graphenated-carbon nanotube (g- CNT) via the floating-catalyst chemical vapor deposition method. Then, the g- CNT paste was prepared and deposited for the counter electrode. The morphological results revealed that the g-CNT8 obtained 34.5 S/cm, forming a highly conductive network due to graphene foliates at the sidewalls of CNT. This excellent finding is due to the hybrid structure of the g-CNT8, which provides a high defect structure that creates efficient electron transfer in the materials resulting in higher conductivity. For the counter electrode DSSC, briefly, GCC500 film provided good electrical conductivity of 6.28 S/cm. In addition, the GCC500 counter electrode offered excellent catalytic activity for the iodide/triiodide reaction. That is a significant feature in employing counter electrodes to enhance DSSC performance. Furthermore, the DSSC-based GCC500 exhibited 5.68 % of photovoltaic conversion energy, much higher than platinum (3.79 %). Therefore, the GCC500 is an excellent candidate to replace the conventional platinum as a counter electrode in DSSC.
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format Thesis
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institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
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spelling upm-1184692025-08-04T07:45:33Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118469/ Graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells Yusuf, Yusnita The counter electrode is one of the most critical components in the dyesensitized solar cell (DSSC). It catalyzes the reduction of iodide/tri-iodide in the electrolyte, bringing the electrons from external loads connected to the cells. A conventional platinum counter electrode is extensively used; however, the concern with platinum-based is that expose to corrosion in an iodine-based electrolyte, which affects the long-term stability of the cell. Therefore, using the carbon-based material to replace the platinum-based in DSSC can address the mentioned problems. This work synthesized a graphenated-carbon nanotube (g- CNT) via the floating-catalyst chemical vapor deposition method. Then, the g- CNT paste was prepared and deposited for the counter electrode. The morphological results revealed that the g-CNT8 obtained 34.5 S/cm, forming a highly conductive network due to graphene foliates at the sidewalls of CNT. This excellent finding is due to the hybrid structure of the g-CNT8, which provides a high defect structure that creates efficient electron transfer in the materials resulting in higher conductivity. For the counter electrode DSSC, briefly, GCC500 film provided good electrical conductivity of 6.28 S/cm. In addition, the GCC500 counter electrode offered excellent catalytic activity for the iodide/triiodide reaction. That is a significant feature in employing counter electrodes to enhance DSSC performance. Furthermore, the DSSC-based GCC500 exhibited 5.68 % of photovoltaic conversion energy, much higher than platinum (3.79 %). Therefore, the GCC500 is an excellent candidate to replace the conventional platinum as a counter electrode in DSSC. 2023 Thesis NonPeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118469/1/118469.pdf Yusuf, Yusnita (2023) Graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. Doctoral thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia. http://ethesis.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18384 Dye-sensitized solar cells Electrodes (Electrochemistry) Carbon nanotubes
spellingShingle Dye-sensitized solar cells
Electrodes (Electrochemistry)
Carbon nanotubes
Yusuf, Yusnita
Graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
title Graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
title_full Graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
title_fullStr Graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
title_full_unstemmed Graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
title_short Graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
title_sort graphenated carbon nanotubes-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
topic Dye-sensitized solar cells
Electrodes (Electrochemistry)
Carbon nanotubes
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118469/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118469/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118469/1/118469.pdf