Facile fabrication of MoS2/PEDOT–PSS composites as low-cost and efficient counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

• MoS2/PEDOT:PSS novel composite film is facilely constructed.
• This film shows Pt-like catalytic performance for triiodide reduction.
• DSC using this composite electrode shows good photovoltaic performance.

A novel MoS2/PEDOT–PSS counter electrode (CE) is proposed and used for dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The MoS2/PEDOT–PSS composites were facilely obtained from the mechanical mixture of hydrothermal synthesized MoS2 nanomaterial and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT–PSS) aqueous solution, and the composites are compatible to low temperature and cost-effective screen-printing fabrication technique. DSC with MoS2/PEDOT–PSS CE exhibits comparable power conversion efficiency and fill factor to the DSC with conventional Pt CE. The good photovoltaic performance of DSC using MoS2/PEDOT–PSS CE is primarily derived from the high electrocatalytic activity of nanosized MoS2 and the high conductive feature of PEDOT–PSS. These results reveal the potential application of MoS2/PEDOT–PSS composite in the use of low-cost, printable and efficient Pt-free CEs.

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