title: Recent advances in alternative counter electrode materials for Co-mediated dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Recently, considerable attention has been paid to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) which are based on Co(2+)/Co(3+) redox shuttles, because of their unparalleled merits including higher redox potential, reduced corrosiveness towards metallic conductors, low costs and high power conversion efficiencies (PCE) (13%). The counter electrode (CE) is an essential component in DSSCs, and plays a crucial role in catalyzing Co(3+) ion reduction in Co-based DSSCs. In this mini-review, we review recent developments in CE materials for Co-mediated DSSCs including: noble metal platinum (Pt), carbon materials, transition metal compounds (TMCs), polymers, and their corresponding hybrids, highlighting important contributions worldwide that promise low cost, efficient, and robust Co-mediated DSSC systems. Additionally, the crucial challenges associated with employing these low-cost CE catalysts for Co-based redox couples in DSSCs are stressed.
authors.affiliation: Functional Materials Laboratory (FML), School of Materials & Mineral Resources, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710055, China. alexsyun1974@aliyun.com yunsining@xauat.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Sining
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Taihong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shahzada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad