Metal chalcogenide-based counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Third-generation solar cells have gained promising momentum in recent decades as an inexpensive replacement for conventional silicon wafer-based technology. In particular, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their simpler manufacturing procedure, inexpensiveness, and competing power conversion efficiency. The overall device performances of the DSSCs rely on four major components, which are photoanodes, sensitizing dyes, electrolytes, and counter electrodes. The final device completion constituent is the counter electrode - one of the major component, which determines the power conversion efficiency of the device. The final output of DSSCs has been measured through the counter electrode characteristics such as efficient charge transfer and reduction of electrolytes during the energy conversion process. In general, platinum (Pt) is the most commonly used counter electrode in DSSCs due to its superior catalytic property, charge transfer characteristics, and high conductivity. However, for a cost-effective solar cell application, the usage of a noble metal such as Pt is an expensive choice of candidate; and for the reduction of expensiveness, the search for alternative inexpensive material is inevitable. In this review article, we have presented the recent research developments of promising Pt-free metal chalcogenide-based counter electrodes; and the prospects in this emerging field have been discussed. In addition, this review devotes to exploring the novel concepts of various metal chalcogenides; and their composite with other materials such as metal nanoparticles, carbonaceous materials, and doped metal chalcogenide counter electrodes are described. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.