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Electrochemically deposited polypyrrole for dye-sensitized solar cell counter electrodes
Author(s)
Keothongkham, Khamsone
Pimanpang, Samuk
Maiaugree, Wasan
Saekow, Saman
Jarernboon, Wirat
Amornkitbamrung, Vittaya
Date Issued
January 1, 2012
Type
Article
Abstract
Polypyrrole films were coated on conductive glass by electrochemical deposition (alternative current or direct current process). They were then used as the dye-sensitized solar cell counter electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that polypyrrole forms a nanoparticle-like structure on the conductive glass. The amount of deposited polypyrrole (or film thickness) increased with the deposition duration, and the performance of polypyrrole based-dye-sensitized solar cells is dependant upon polymer thickness. The highest efficiency of alternative current and direct current polypyrrole based-dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is 4.72% and 4.02%, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy suggests that the superior performance of alternative current polypyrrole solar cells is due to their lower charge-transfer resistance between counter electrode and electrolyte. The large charge-transfer resistance of direct current solar cells is attributed to the formation of unbounded polypyrrole chains minimizing the I 3 - reduction rate. © 2012 Khamsone Keothongkham et al.
Citation
International Journal of Photoenergy, 2012, 2012