CNT/PEDOT core/shell nanostructures as a counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

CNT/PEDOT nanostructures composed of carbon nanotube (CNT) cores and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) shells were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) using FeCl3 and dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) as the oxidant and surfactant, respectively. The resulting CNT/PEDOT nanostructures had a PEDOT layer thickness of 2–5 nm that exhibited not only higher polymerization yield but also enhanced thermal stability and electrical conductivity relative to pure PEDOT. N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)-based CNT/PEDOT paste containing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as a binder was painted directly onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass for use as a counter electrode (CE) material in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). While DSSCs made of pure CNT and PEDOT CE exhibited power conversion efficiencies of ∼3.88% and 4.32% under standard AM 1.5 sunlight illumination, respectively, the cell efficiency was enhanced to ∼4.62% with the CNT/PEDOT CE. This enhancement was due to the improved fill factor of the CNT/PEDOT-based DSSC realized by the increased electrical conductivity of the CNT/PEDOT composite.

► CNT/PEDOT core/shell nanostructures, with PEDOT shell thickness of 2–5 nm, were fabricated by chemical oxidative polymerization using anionic surfactant dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid.
► CNT/PEDOT exhibited improved electrical conductivity as well as higher polymerization yield than those of pure PEDOT.
► The dye-sensitized solar cell using CNT/PEDOT counter electrode with the lowest surface resistivity showed enhanced conversion efficiency (4.62%) than CNT (3.88%) and PEDOT (4.32%).