Low-cost counter electrodes based on nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanorods for dye-sensitized solar cells

Nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanorods (N-PCNRs) with high accessible surface area are prepared by carbonization of polyaniline (PANI) nanorods and subsequent chemical activation, and explored as the counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). SEM and TEM images demonstrate that the nanorod morphology of PANI is preserved after pre-carbonization and chemical activation treatment. The unique combination of the porosity with high accessible surface area, nitrogen doping, and nanorod structure endows the N-PCNR electrode with an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the I3- reduction, which is illuminated by the electrochemical measurements. Under simulated AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm−2), the DSC based on N-PCNR counter electrode achieves a conversion efficiency of 7.01%, which is nearly close to that of the cell based on Pt counter electrode (7.25%).