Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer many advantages in comparison to their Si-based counterparts, including lower cost of raw materials, faster manufacturing time, and the ability to be integrated with flexible substrates. Although many advances have been made in DSSC fabrication over recent years, their efficiency remains lower than commercially available Si photovoltaic cells. Here we report improved efficiency of dye solar cell using vertically aligned arrays of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a counter electrode. Dense vertically oriented CNT arrays are grown directly on the counter electrode using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition and a trilayer (Ti/Al/Fe) catalyst. The resulting arrays are in height and have a number density of approximately . By directly growing the CNTs on the counter electrode substrate, electrical interface conductance is enhanced. The performance of both as-grown and N-doped (using a nitrogen plasma) CNT arrays is reported. The fabricated DSSCs are tested under AM1.5 light. Increased short-circuit current is observed in comparison to graphite and Pt counter electrodes. We attribute this improvement to the large surface area created by the 3D structure of the arrays in comparison to the planar geometry of the graphite and Pt electrodes, as well as the excellent electrical properties of the CNTs.
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Improved Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using a Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Counter Electrode
Robert A. Sayer,
Robert A. Sayer
School of Mechanical Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907
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Stephen L. Hodson,
Stephen L. Hodson
School of Mechanical Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Search for other works by this author on:
Timothy S. Fisher
Timothy S. Fisher
School of Mechanical Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Search for other works by this author on:
Robert A. Sayer
School of Mechanical Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Stephen L. Hodson
School of Mechanical Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Timothy S. Fisher
School of Mechanical Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center,
Purdue University
, West Lafayette, IN 47907J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2010, 132(2): 021007 (4 pages)
Published Online: May 6, 2010
Article history
Received:
September 6, 2009
Revised:
December 10, 2009
Online:
May 6, 2010
Published:
May 6, 2010
Citation
Sayer, R. A., Hodson, S. L., and Fisher, T. S. (May 6, 2010). "Improved Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using a Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Counter Electrode." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2010; 132(2): 021007. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4001148
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