Metal-organic frameworks derived carbon as a high-efficiency counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

•MOF derived carbon materials were firstly applied as a counter electrode of DSCs.•An efficiency of 7.32% can achieved which was comparable to that of Pt electrode.•Calcination temperature influenced the properties of carbon counter-electrode.•The residual ZnO influenced the electrical conductivity of carbon counter-electrode.

Metal-organic frameworks, ZIF-8, derived carbon materials are firstly applied as a counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells due to their easy fabrication, large specific surface area and high catalytic activities towards the reduction of I3− ions. An efficiency of 7.32% is achieved under the illumination of 1 sun (AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm2), which is comparable to that of the solar cell based on Pt electrode.

Graphical abstractMetal-organic frameworks (ZIF-8) derived carbon was firstly used as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells, and achieved an efficiency of 7.32%, which was comparable to that of Pt-based DSC.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide