Application of microporous polyaniline counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

An inexpensive microporous polyaniline (PANI) is used as a substitute for platinum to construct the counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The PANI counter electrode with microporosity and a size diameter of about 100 nm possesses lower charge-transfer resistance and higher electrocatalytic activity for the I3-/I- redox reaction than Pt electrode does. The overall energy conversion efficiency of the DSSC with PANI counter electrode reaches 7.15%, which is higher than that of the DSSC with Pt counter electrode. The excellent photoelectric properties, simple preparation procedure and inexpensive cost allow PANI electrode to be a credible alternative for DSSCs.