Highly catalytic carbon nanotube counter electrode on plastic for dye solar cells utilizing cobalt-based redox mediator

• A flexible, slightly transparent and metal-free random network of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on plain polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic substrate outperformed platinum on conductive glass and on plastic as the counter electrode (CE) of a dye solar cell employing a Co(II/III)tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) complex redox mediator in 3-methoxypropionitrile solvent. The CE charge-transfer resistance of the SWCNT film was 0.60 Omega cm(2), 4.0 Omega cm(2) for sputtered platinum on indium tin oxide-PET substrate and 1.7 Omega cm(2) for thermally deposited Pt on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass, respectively. The solar cell efficiencies were in the same range, thus proving that an entirely carbon-based SWCNT film on plastic is as good CE candidate for the Co electrolyte. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nyckelord

Dye solar cell

Carbon nanotube

Plastic

Counter electrode

Cobalt complex

Electrolyte

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