Screen printed Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline composite counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells
<p>Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), described as one of the most prominent third generation solar cells, stand out in the photovoltaic category. In general, DSSCs consist of a large band gap n-type semiconductor electrode (photoanode), a sensitizer (dye), a redox electrolyte, and a counter...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Ceylon Journal of Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7644 |
| _version_ | 1811193697591623680 |
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| author | I. P. Perera S. K. S. Thennakoon S. S. Gunathilake |
| author_facet | I. P. Perera S. K. S. Thennakoon S. S. Gunathilake |
| author_sort | I. P. Perera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), described as one of the most prominent third generation solar cells, stand out in the photovoltaic category. In general, DSSCs consist of a large band gap n-type semiconductor electrode (photoanode), a sensitizer (dye), a redox electrolyte, and a counter electrode (CE). A platinized glass substrate is commonly used as the CE which acts as a catalyst for the redox reaction taking place in the cell. Further, it collects electrons from the external load and sends them to the electrolyte. Although Pt has several advantages characteristics, Pt free CE materials have drawn the attention of researchers because Pt is an extremely expensive and diminishing noble metal. According to various researches, carbonaceous materials are promising alternatives for the Pt CE. In this study we report the use of Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline (SLVG/PANI) composite as the counter electrode material for DSSCs. Sri Lankan vein graphite (SLVG) is highly crystalline and is a potential low cost alternative to expensive Pt. Polyaniline was prepared by oxidative polymerization of aniline with potassium peroxydisulfate. SLVG/PANI composites were screen printed on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the binder. The performance of the new counter electrode was studied by analyzing the I-V characteristics of the DSSCs and the highest efficiency of 5.0% was recorded. DSSCs with new counter electrodes were further characterized using powder X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared studies.<br /><br /></p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:13:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ea7224fe88e4731842a8330f22a9473 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2513-2814 2513-230X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:13:58Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ceylon Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ea7224fe88e4731842a8330f22a94732022-12-22T03:55:54ZengFaculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri LankaCeylon Journal of Science2513-28142513-230X2019-09-0148320921510.4038/cjs.v48i3.76445765Screen printed Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline composite counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cellsI. P. Perera0S. K. S. Thennakoon1S. S. Gunathilake2University of Peradeniya, PeradeniyaUniversity of Peradeniya, PeradeniyaUniversity of Peradeniya, Peradeniya<p>Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), described as one of the most prominent third generation solar cells, stand out in the photovoltaic category. In general, DSSCs consist of a large band gap n-type semiconductor electrode (photoanode), a sensitizer (dye), a redox electrolyte, and a counter electrode (CE). A platinized glass substrate is commonly used as the CE which acts as a catalyst for the redox reaction taking place in the cell. Further, it collects electrons from the external load and sends them to the electrolyte. Although Pt has several advantages characteristics, Pt free CE materials have drawn the attention of researchers because Pt is an extremely expensive and diminishing noble metal. According to various researches, carbonaceous materials are promising alternatives for the Pt CE. In this study we report the use of Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline (SLVG/PANI) composite as the counter electrode material for DSSCs. Sri Lankan vein graphite (SLVG) is highly crystalline and is a potential low cost alternative to expensive Pt. Polyaniline was prepared by oxidative polymerization of aniline with potassium peroxydisulfate. SLVG/PANI composites were screen printed on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the binder. The performance of the new counter electrode was studied by analyzing the I-V characteristics of the DSSCs and the highest efficiency of 5.0% was recorded. DSSCs with new counter electrodes were further characterized using powder X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared studies.<br /><br /></p>https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7644polyaniline, sri lankan vein graphite, composites, counter electrode, dye-sensitized solar cells |
| spellingShingle | I. P. Perera S. K. S. Thennakoon S. S. Gunathilake Screen printed Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline composite counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells Ceylon Journal of Science polyaniline, sri lankan vein graphite, composites, counter electrode, dye-sensitized solar cells |
| title | Screen printed Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline composite counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_full | Screen printed Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline composite counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_fullStr | Screen printed Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline composite counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Screen printed Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline composite counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_short | Screen printed Sri Lankan vein graphite/polyaniline composite counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_sort | screen printed sri lankan vein graphite polyaniline composite counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells |
| topic | polyaniline, sri lankan vein graphite, composites, counter electrode, dye-sensitized solar cells |
| url | https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7644 |
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