Synthesis and performance of transition metal compound polythiophene composite as counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cell

Abstract

The energy demand is rapidly increasing and the present universal energy utilization newlineoccurs at a rate of 13.5 TW, which may rise to 30 TW by 2050. Replacing fossil fuels newlinewith renewable energy sources has been considered to be the major challenge of newlinehumankind. Harnessing solar energy using photovoltaic technologies appears to be one newlineof the promising solutions. In this regard, dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have gained newlinetremendous attention considering their advantages in low-cost fabrication and newlineenvironmentally friendly manufacturing techniques compared to conventional silicon newline(c-Si) based photovoltaic cells. The counter electrode (CE), a major component in newlineDSSC plays an important role in the operation of the device. It collects the electrons newlineflowing from the external circuit and helps in the catalyses for the reduction of triiodide newlineto iodide. The superior features like attractive electrical conductivity and high electrocatalytic activity resulted in platinum gaining scientific interest as a traditional counter newlineelectrode in dye sensitized solar cells. Though, the limitations like lack of stability in newlineredox couple electrolyte, scarcity of the material and high cost of platinum hindered its newlineapplication in dye sensitized solar cells. Therefore, various Pt-free catalysts such as newlinetransition metals, carbon-based derivatives, conducting polymers, and composite newlinematerials were explored as CE. Conducting polymers like polyaniline, polypyrrole, newlinepolythiophene and its derivatives have been used as counter electrode material. To newlineenhance the electrical conductivity and catalytic activity of bare PTh, the transition newlinemetal with good conductivity and catalytic sites was incorporated on to the polymer newlinematrix. newline