CuInS₂ nanocrystals/PEDOT:PSS composite counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2012 Nov;4(11):6242-6. doi: 10.1021/am3018338. Epub 2012 Oct 26.

Abstract

An inorganic/organic nanocomposite comprised of CuInS(2) nanocrystals and poly(styrenesulfonate)-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (CIS/PEDOT:PSS) was explored as a promising candidate for the counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Cyclic voltammetry measurements confirmed that this composite electrode exhibited better catalytic activity compared with pristine CuInS₂ or PEDOT:PSS electrode. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that the composite film constitutes a three-dimensional catalytic network. The DSC using this composite CE can yield 6.50% photoelectric conversion efficiency, which is comparable to that of the conventional platinum CE (6.51%) and better than that of the pristine CuInS₂ (5.45%) or PEDOT:PSS (3.22%) electrode.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coloring Agents / chemistry*
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Crystallization / methods
  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Electrodes*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Indium / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Particle Size
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry*
  • Selenium / chemistry*
  • Solar Energy*
  • Thiophenes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Polystyrenes
  • Thiophenes
  • copper indium diselenide
  • poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)
  • Indium
  • Copper
  • Selenium