Gold nanoparticles and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) hybrid films as counter-electrodes for enhanced efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells

PEDOT films incorporating gold nanoparticles have been used for counter-electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. An increase in efficiency of about 130% has been observed compared to the use of PEDOT alone. Electrochemical investigations of the CoIII(phen)3/CoII(phen)3 used as redox shuttle on the PEDOT-AuNPs and PEDOT electrodes point out towards neither an enhanced catalytic activity nor a plasmonic effect but strongly suggest that this enhanced power efficiency is due to an increase in the conductivity of the counter electrode. On a more general point of view, this study shows the important impact of internal ohmic drop inside a DSSC on its efficiency.

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