Synthesis and Application of Cobalt Aluminate Nanoparticles as Counter Electrode in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells have attracted intense research attention owing to their ease of fabrication, costeffectivenessand high efficiency in converting solar energy. Noble platinum is generally used as catalytic counterelectrode for redox mediators in electrolyte solution. Unfortunately, platinum is expensive and non-sustainable forlong-term applications. Therefore, researchers are facing with the challenge of developing low-cost and earth abundantalternatives. Here, we used Cobalt aluminate (CoAl2O4) as a new counter electrode catalyst in DSSCs. Cobaltaluminate nanoparticles were synthesized through hydrothermal method in an alkaline condition with pH=12. Thesenanoparticles were used in platinum free Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells as counter electrode. The effect of the CoAl2O4film thickness coated on a counter electrode on the performance of a DSSC, were also investigated. The highest powerconversion efficiency of 2.03% was obtained by using CoAl2O4 nanoparticle film in counter electrode having thethickness of 4.31μm.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dye-sensitized solar cells ، Counter electrode ، Cobalt aluminate ، hydrothermal ، nanoparticle