Counter electrode

Atul kumar
12307005

Gratzel Cell
SnO2

Photo-electrochemical Cell
Artificial photosynthesis

Platinum

Electrolyte

Dye/biopolymer/quantum dots

10m

TiO2
SnO2

Dye-sensitized solar cells:

Components

TiO2
Electrolyte

1.

Granular TiO2 forming a

nanoporous structure.

2.

A dye, which is a light

sensitive substance spread on
the TiO2 surface.

3.

A redox couple (I-/I3-), located

in the space between the dye
and the cathode.

4.

Fto coated front glass and

counter electrode coated back
substrate

Dye-sensitized solar cells: Operation

1.

Dye electrons are excited by

solar energy absorption.

2.

They are injected into the

conduction band of TiO2.

3.

Get to counter-electrode
(cathode) through the external
circuit.
I 3- 2e 3I 4.
: Redox regeneration
3I -at
the
I3- 2counter-electrode
e
(oxidation).
5.

: Dye regeneration
reaction (reduction).

6.

Vext used
E F for
Vredox
Potential
external
work:

Red=IOx =I3-

Ionic Liquid

Nanocrystalline Solar Cell: Materials

Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

F-SnO2glass slides
Iodine and triIodide
electrolyte
Colloidal Titanium Dioxide
Powder
Ruthenium n3 dye.
Counter electrode

Counter electrode
The counter electrode is one of the most important components
of dssc, since
1.It has the function of reducing the oxidized mediator species
2. Transferring the electrons from load to electrolyte/Collecting
the holes from the hole transporting material.
3.Sufficiently corrosion-resistant to electrolyte.
4.In equivalent circuit of dssc the counter electrode constant
phase element, charge transfer resistance of counter electrode.

the choice of the counter electrode depends as

1. platinum is a precious metal
2.Carbon-based materials, and other platinum-free
catalytic layers, deposited over different substrates,
such as metal foils and plastic sheets are tried.

Carbon counter electrode dssc

Method for deposition of counter electrode

Pt was electrodeposited from a solution containing 10 mM

H2PtCl6 and 0.5 M KCl in a three-electrode cell with
indium tin oxide (ITO) glass working electrode,
Pt mesh auxiliary electrode,
Ag/AgCl reference electrode.
Technique used to deposit the pt using
Chronopotentiometry

Chronopotentiometry
Chronopotentiometry (CP) is the most basic constant
current experiment where step current is applied across
an electrochemical cell.The galvanostat uses a three
electrode configuration. The basis of controlled current
experiments is that a redox (electron transfer) reaction
that must occur at the surface of the working electrode in
order to support the applied current applications of this is
constant current electrolysis such as electrodeposition

Pt deposition
10mM H2PtCl6.6H2o,10mM KCl are taken in 20
ml H2O to from a solution for electrodeposition of
Pt .

Pt deposition for 150s using chronopotentiometry

pt deposition for 300s using chronopotentiometry

pt deposition for 600s using chronopotentiometry

Counter electrode
characterization:CV
Application of a
reversing linear sweep
If an electro active
species is present we
obtain a Faradaic
current, summed to the
background charging
current
I = IC+If

Counter electrode

Good catalytic activity for triiodide to iodide conversion

Low resistance
Pt
Au
Carbon
WO2

Nb2O5
Cobalt

CV
E = (Epa + Epc)/2

Ep = Epa - Epc = 59mV/n

The deposited pt are checked for the

catalytic activity by cv in the solution of
10mM LiI, 1mM I, 0.1mM LiClO4 in 25
ml acetonitrile

Counter electrode characterization

Cv of pt deposited (600s)

Cv of pt deposited (600s)

Cv of aluminium doped zno coated glass substrate

Carbon counter electrode

We also prepared carbon counter
electrode by depositing carbon on tco
glass we prepared two carbon glass
plate by depositng carbon for 10
second dark and 2 second light
deposit.and took cv for checking
catalytic activity of carbon coted
counter electrode.

Cv Carbon thick
deposition for 10 second

Cv Carbon thin
deposition for 2
second

Fabrication of dssc
Procedure:
Add 1 gram of TiO2 (in 1 ml H2O) of a drop of
acetic acid (ph3-4) in a mortar and pestle.
Grinding for 30 minutes will produce a lump
free paste.
1 drop of a surfactant is then added
(mercapta propanoic acid).

Semiconductor electrode

Support for dye adsorption

Wide bandgap semiconductor
High surface area
Good electron conductivity
Low recombination
Nanoparticles
Nanotubes
Double layer
ZnO

Way towards higher efficiency

Better light absorber

Solid electrolyte
Cheaper Counter electrode material
Suitable electrode
Simple and cheap TCO material
Higher efficiency to be suitable for production
in large scale

Coating the Cell

After testing to determine which
side is conductive, one of the
glass slides is then masked off 12 mm on THREE sides with
masking tape. This is to form a
mold.
A couple of drops if the titanium
dioxide suspension is then added
and distributed across the area
of the mold with a glass rod.
The slide is then set aside to dry
for one minute.

After the first slide has dried the tape

can be removed.
The titanium dioxide layer needs to be
heat sintered and this can be done by
using a hot air gun that can reach a
temperature of at least 450 degrees
Celsius.
This heating process should last 30
minutes.

Dye Absorption and Coating the

Counter Electrode

Allow the heat sintered slide to cool

to room temperature.
Once the slide has cooled, place the
slide face down in the filtered dye
and allow the dye to be absorbed
for 5 or more minutes.

While the first slide is soaking,

determine which side of the second
slide is conducting.
Place the second slide over an open
flame and move back and forth.
This will coat the second slide with a
carbon catalyst layer

Assembling the Solar Cell

After the first slide had

absorbed the dye, it is quickly
rinsed with ethanol to remove
any water. It is then blotted dry
with tissue paper.
Quickly, the two slides are
placed in an offset manner
together so that the layers are
touching.
Binder clips can be used to keep
the two slides together.
One drop of a liquid
iodide/iodine solution is
then added between the
slides. Capillary action will
stain the entire inside of
the slides

Preparation of Electrolyte Solution

Electrolyte solution
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Measure out 25-ml of acetonitrile.

Weigh out 0.317-g of I2 or 0.05mM, add it to the acetonitirle
and stir.
Weigh out 1.6731 g of LiI 0.5mM and add it to the same.
Stir and sore in a dark container with a tight lid.
0.3mM N3 dye was taken and added to 10ml ethanol. N3 RuL(NCS) (L=2,2-bipyridyl-4,4-dicarboxylic acid)

References
Electrochimica Acta 51 (2006) 38143819 Electrodeposited Pt for cost-efficient
and flexible dye-sensitized solar cells Seok-Soon Kim, Yoon-Chae Nah, YongYoung Noh, Jang Jo, Dong-Yu Kim
Dye-sensitized solar cells Michael Grtzel
Laboratory for Photonics and Interfaces, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C:
Photochemistry Reviews 4 (2003) 145153
Takechi, K., Muszynski, R., Kamat, PV. Fabrication procedure of dye-sensitized
solar cells (http://www.nd.edu/~pkamat/pdf/solarcell.pdf)
B. ORegan, M. Grtzel, Nature 335 (1991) 737; M. Grtzel, Nature 414 (2001)
338344.
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical_Chemistry/Instrumental_Analysis/Cyclic_
Voltammetry
http://www.basinc.com/mans/EC_epsilon/Techniques/CPot/cp.html