Performance variation of carbon counter electrode based dye-sensitized solar cell

The effect of dark and room temperature aging on the performance of carbon counter electrode based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has been investigated. Using nano size carbon as a counter electrode material, DSSC with power conversion efficiency of 7.56% was fabricated. Storing the devices in the dark at room temperature enhanced both the open-circuit voltage (VOC) and fill-factor (FF) but reduced the short-circuit current density (JSC). After 60 days of aging, carbon counter electrode DSSC retains 84% of its initial day efficiency (η). The variation in the current–voltage parameters was explained on the basis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) analysis.