International Journal of Photoenergy

Wasan Maiaugree ¹, Samuk Pimanpang ¹, Wirat Jarernboon ¹, Vittaya Amornkitbamrung ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Physics, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, TH

Abstract

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified by acids (H₂SO₄ : HNO₃) for generating active groups on the nanotube surface. Unmodified- and modified-carbon nanotubes were coated on the conductive glass and conductive plastic substrates by a slurry paste method, and they were used as the counter electrodes (CEs) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Scanning electron microscopy reveals that carbon nanotubes are evenly deposited on the conductive glass. The efficiency of the glass based DSSCs of unmodified- and modified-carbon nanotubes and Pt CEs is ∼4.73%, ∼5.66%, and ∼6.08%, respectively. The efficiency of the plastic based DSSCs of the unmodified- and modified-carbon nanotubes CEs is ∼0.80% and ∼2.11%, respectively. The voltammogram and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results suggest that the superior performance of the modified-carbon nanotubes DSSCs is attributable to the high electrocatalytic activity and the low charge-transfer resistance of the modified-carbon nanotubes film over the unmodified-carbon nanotubes film.

Full Text