Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Polyethylene glycol-modified poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cell

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) counter electrodes, doped with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and acetylene black as binding and conductivity promoting agent, were prepared by a simple mixing method for dye-sensitized solar cell. The electrochemical properties of the electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel polarization curves. Using PEG dopant, the electrocatalytic activity of PEDOT:PSS electrode was much improved, and further improved by adding a small amount of conducting acetylene black (0.2 wt%). The DSSC cells, using the PEDOT:PSS electrode with PEG (5 wt%) dopant and the composite electrode with PEG (5 wt%)/acetylene black, exhibited an energy conversion efficiency of 3.57 and 4.39 %, comparable with 4.50 % of the commonly used Pt electrode under the same experimental conditions. These results demonstrate that PEG-modified PEDOT:PSS counter electrode is promising to replace the expensive Pt for low cost DSSC, especially to meet the large-scale fabrication demands.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. O’Regan B, Grätzel M (1991) A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 353:737–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kay A, Grätzel M (1996) Low cost photovoltaic modules based on dye sensitized nanocrystalline titanium dioxide and carbon powder. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 44:99–117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Murakami TN, Ito S, Wang Q, Nazeeruddin MK, Bessho T, Cesar I, Liska P, Baker RH, Comte P, Péchy P, Grätzel M (2006) Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells based on carbon black counter electrodes. J Electrochem Soc 153:A2255–A2261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wu M, Lin X, Wang T, Qiu J, Ma T (2011) Low-cost dye-sensitized solar cell based on nine kinds of carbon counter electrodes. Energy Environ Sci 4:2308–2315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cha SI, Koo BK, Seo SH, Lee DY (2010) Pt-free transparent counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells prepared from carbon nanotube micro-balls. J Mater Chem 20:659–662

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Denaro T, Baglio V, Girolamo M, Antonucci V, Arico’ AS, Matteucci F, Ornelas R (2009) Investigation of low cost carbonaceous materials for application as counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Appl Electrochem 39:2173–2179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Han J, Kim H, Kim DY, Jo SM, Jang SY (2010) Water-soluble polyelectrolyte-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube thin films for efficient counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Nano 4:3503–3509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Sakurai S, Jiang H, Takahashi M, Kobayashi K (2009) Enhanced performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell with a modified poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/TiO2/FTO counter electrode. Electrochim Acta 54:5463–5469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lee KM, Chiu WH, Wei HY, Hu CW, Suryanarayanan V, Hsieh WF, Ho KC (2010) Effects of mesoscopic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) films as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Thin Solid Films 518:1716–1721

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lee KM, Chen PY, Hsu CY, Huang JH, Ho WH, Chen HC, Ho KC (2009) A high-performance counter electrode based on poly(3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene) for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Power Sour 188:313–318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ameen S, Akhtar MS, Kim YS, Yang OB, Shin HS (2010) Sulfamic acid-doped polyaniline nanofibers thin film-based counter electrode: application in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Phys Chem C 114:4760–4764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nagai H, Segawa H (2004) Energy-storable dye-sensitized solar cell with a polypyrrole electrode. Chem Commun 8:974–975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Wu J, Li Q, Fan L, Lan Z, Li P, Lin J, Hao S (2008) High-performance polypyrrole nanoparticles counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Power Sources 181:172–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wu M, Lin X, Hagfeldt A, Ma T (2011) Low-cost molybdenum carbide and tungsten carbide counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Angew Chem Int Ed 50:3520–3524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wu M, Lin X, Wang Y, Wang L, Guo W, Qi D, Peng X, Hagfeldt A, Grätzel M, Ma T (2012) Economical Pt-free catalysts for counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells. J Am Chem Soc 134:3419–3428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jiang QW, Li GR, Gao XP (2009) Highly ordered TiN nanotube arrays as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Commun 44:6720–6722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hu Y, Zheng Z, Jia H, Tang Y, Zhang L (2008) Selective synthesis of FeS and FeS2 nanosheet films on Iron substrates as novel photocathodes for tandem dye-sensitized solar cells. J Phys Chem C 112:13037–13042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang M, Anghel AM, Marsan B, Cevey Ha NL, Pootrakulchote N, Zakeeruddin SM, Grätzel M (2009) CoS supersedes Pt as efficient electrocatalyst for triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Am Chem Soc 131:15976–15977

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sun H, Qin D, Huang S, Guo X, Li D, Luo Y, Meng Q (2011) Dye-sensitized solar cells with NiS counter electrodes electrodeposited by a potential reversal technique. Energy Environ Sci 4:2630–2637

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Groenendaal LB, Jonas F, Freitag D, Pielartzik H, Reynolds JR (2000) Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and its derivatives: past, present, and future. Adv Mater 12:481–494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ouyang BY, Chi CW, Chen FC, Xu Q, Yang Y (2005) High-conductivity poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) film and its application in polymer optoelectronic devices. Adv Funct Mater 15:203–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang C, Wang K, Hu L, Kong F, Guo L (2007) Improved performance of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells with p/p-type nanocomposite electrolyte. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 189:329–333

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Biancardo M, West K, Krebs FC (2007) Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells: Pt and PEDOT:PSS counter electrodes applied to gel electrolyte assemblies. J Photochem Photobiol A 187:395–401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Chang C-C, Jiang M-T, Chang C-L, Lin C-L (2011) Preparation and characterization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) composite thin films highly loaded with platinum nanoparticles. Mater Chem Phys 127:440–445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Shibata Y, Kato T, Kado T, Shiratuchi R, Takashima W, Kaneto K, Hayase S (2003) Quasi-solid dye sensitised solar cells filled with ionic liquid-increase in efficiencies by specific interaction between conductive polymers and gelators. Chem Commun 9:2730–2731

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Chen JG, Wei HY, Ho KC (2007) Using modified poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) film as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 91:1472–1477

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Xia J, Masaki N, Jiang K, Yanagida S (2007) The influence of doping ions on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) as a counter electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell. J Mater Chem 17:2845–2850

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Fan B, Mei X, Sun K, Ouyang J (2008) Conducting polymer/carbon nanotube composite as counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl Phys lett 93:143103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Hong W, Xu Y, Lu G, Li C, Shi G (2008) Transparent graphene/PEDOT-PSS composite films as counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochem Commun 10:1555–1558

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Yue G, Wu J, Xiao Y, Lin J, Huang M (2012) Low cost poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate/carbon black counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 67:113–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Yeh MH, Lin LY, Lee CP, Wei HY, Chen CY, Wu CG, Vittala R, Ho KC (2011) A composite catalytic film of PEDOT:PSS/TiN–NPs on a flexible counter-electrode substrate for a dye-sensitized solar cell. J Mater Chem 21:19021–19029

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Xu H, Zhang X, Zhang C, Liu Z, Zhou X, Pang S, Chen X, Dong S, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Han P, Wang X, Cui G (2012) Nanostructured titanium nitride/PEDOT:PSS composite films as counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 4:1087–1092

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Maiaugree W, Pimanpang S, Towannang M, Saekow S, Jarernboon W, Amornkitbamrung V (2012) Optimization of TiO2 nanoparticle mixed PEDOT-PSS counter electrodes for high efficiency dye sensitized solar cell. J Non-Cryst Solids 358:2489–2495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Yue G, Wu J, Xiao Y, Lin J, Huang M, Lan Z (2010) Application of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate/polypyrrole counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Phys Chem C 114:4760–4764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Crispin X, Jakobsson FLE, Crispin A, Grim PCM, Andersson P, Volodin A, Haesendonck C, Auweraer MV, Salaneck WR, Berggren M (2006) The origin of the high conductivity of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT–PSS) plastic electrodes. Chem Mater 18:4354–4360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Wei T-C, Chi-Chao Wan C-C, Wang Y-Y, Chen C, Shiu H (2007) Immobilization of Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-capped platinum nanoclusters on indium-tin oxide glass and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Phys Chem C 111:4847–4853

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Popov AI, Geske DH (1958) Studies on the chemistry of halogen and of polyhalides. XIII. Voltammetry of iodine species in acetonitrile. J Am Chem Soc 80:1340–1352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Wu M, Lin X, Hagfeldt A, Ma T (2011) A novel catalyst of WO2 nanorod for the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Commun 47:4535–4537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (50973113) and the Hundred Talents Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy and Gas Hydrate, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 2 Nengyuan Road, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China

    Xiaodan Yan & Lingzhi Zhang

Authors
  1. Xiaodan Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lingzhi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lingzhi Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yan, X., Zhang, L. Polyethylene glycol-modified poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cell. J Appl Electrochem 43, 605–610 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-013-0544-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-013-0544-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation