title: Electrospun carbon nanofibers as low-cost counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNs) have been explored as an electrocatalyst and low-cost alternative to platinum (Pt) for triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry measurements indicated that the ECN counter electrodes exhibited low charge-transfer resistance (Rct), large capacitance (C), and fast reaction rates for triiodide reduction. Although the efficiency (η) of ECN-based cells was slightly lower than that of Pt-based cells, their short circuit current density (Jsc) and open circuit voltage (Voc) were comparable. The ECN-based cells achieved an energy conversion efficiency (η) of 5.5 % under the AM 1.5 illumination at 100 mW cm(-2). The reason for lower cell performance using the ECN electrode was because of its lower fill factor (FF) than that of Pt-based cells, probably caused by high total series resistance (RStot) at ∼15.5 Ω cm2, which was larger than that of ∼4.8 Ω cm2 in the Pt-based devices. Simulated results showed that the fill factor (FF) and η could be substantially improved by decreasing RStot, which might be achieved by using thinner and highly porous ECNs to reduce the thickness of the ECNs counter electrode.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Photovoltaics, Department of Electrical Engineering, South Dakota State University, 020 EECS, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, USA.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Lifeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiliang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galipeau
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Qiquan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qiao
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D012399:Rotation; D012993:Solar Energy
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon