Dimensionally integrated α-MnO2/Carbon black binary complex as platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cell

•Synthesis of dimensionally integrated binary α-MnO2/CB using hydrothermal method.•α-MnO2/CB nanocomposite fabricated as counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells.•Optimum conversion efficiency 4.33% was achieved.

α-MnO2/carbon black nanocomposites were synthesized using hydrothermal method. The α-MnO2/carbon black (CB) nanocomposites was fabricated as counter electrode (CE) for Platinum (Pt) free DSSC. Morphological study was carried out using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). FTIR, Raman and XPS study substantiate well about the formation of nanocomposites. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm reveals the embedment of CB which enhances surface area of α-MnO2/CB nanocomposites. α-MnO2/CB nanocomposites CE shows very good electrochemical and electrocatalytic activity. Their respective study was carried out using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The better electrocatalytic activity and low charge transfer resistance (Rct) of α-MnO2/CB nanocomposites as CE, imparts an improvement of photo conversion efficiency. The conversion efficiency (η) of 4.29% was achieved using α-MnO2-120/CB as DSSC CE which is closely comparable to Platinum as CE.

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