Metal/metal sulfide functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes: FTO-free counter electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The use of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) thin films to replace conventional fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and both FTO and platinum (Pt) as the counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) requires surface modification due to high sheet resistance and charge transfer resistance. In this paper, we report a simple, solution-based method of preparing FTO-free counter electrodes based on metal (Pt) or metal sulfide (Co_8.4S₈, Ni₃S₂) nanoparticles/CNT composite films to improve device performance. Based on electrochemical studies, the relative catalytic activity of the composite films was Pt > Co_8.4S₈ > Ni₃S₂. We achieved a maximum efficiency of 3.76% for the device with an FTO-free counter electrode (Pt/CNT). The device with an FTO- and Pt-free (CoS/CNT) counter electrode gives 3.13% efficiency.