Low‐Cost and Extra‐Simple Preparation of Porous NiS
            2
            Counter Electrode for High‐Efficiency Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Natural dyes were obtained from lotus leaf by ethanol extraction, and biochar was prepared by one-step pyrolysis in this study. The UV-Vis spectrum of lotus leaf derived natural dye indicated that it had good light absorption performance. The energy conversion efficiency (PCE) of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with the natural dye as sensitizer and platinum as counter electrode was 0.36%, and the filling factor was as high as 0.66. Owing to its relatively rich pore structures and glassy carbon materials, the biochar showed its good catalytic performance, which made the PCE of DSSC reach 1.42% when the biochar as counter electrode and N719 as sensitizer. Meanwhile, the PCE achieved 0.15% when lotus leaf derived natural dye as sensitizer and biochar as counter electrode simultaneously. This study has realized the full utilization of biomass in dye-sensitized solar cells, providing the possibility for preparation of low-cost and high-efficiency DSSC.

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Low-Cost Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Interconnected FTO-Activated Carbon Nanoparticulate Counter Electrode Showing High Efficiency

Journal of Materials Science and Engineering A ◽

10.17265/2161-6213/2015.9-10.005 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Chandana Sampath Kumara Ranasinghe ◽

Eranji Nirmada Jayaweera ◽

Gamaralalage Rajanya Ashoka Kumara ◽

Rajapakse Mudiyanselage Gamini Rajapakse ◽

Herath Mudiyanselage Navarathna Bandara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Counter Electrode ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Low Cost ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

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Mesoporous Bi2S3 nanorods with graphene-assistance as low-cost counter-electrode materials in dye-sensitized solar cells

Nanoscale ◽

10.1039/c4nr04274c ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (23) ◽

pp. 14433-14440 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Sheng-qi Guo ◽

Tian-zeng Jing ◽

Xiao Zhang ◽

Xiao-bing Yang ◽

Zhi-hao Yuan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Counter Electrode ◽

Electrode Materials ◽

Low Cost ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Hydrothermal Conditions ◽

Catalytic Activities ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

In this work, we report the synthesis of mesoporous Bi2S3 nanorods under hydrothermal conditions without additives, and investigated their catalytic activities as the CE in DSCs by I–V curves and tested conversion efficiency.

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Ruthenium Sensitizers and Their Applications in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2012/291579 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Yuancheng Qin ◽

Qiang Peng

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Low Cost ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Ruthenium Complexes ◽

Practical Applications ◽

Photovoltaic Energy ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Excellent Stability

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to the possibility of low-cost conversion of photovoltaic energy. The DSSCs-based ruthenium complexes as sensitizers show high efficiency and excellent stability, implying potential practical applications. This review focuses on recent advances in design and preparation of efficient ruthenium sensitizers and their applications in DSSCs, including thiocyanate ruthenium sensitizers and thiocyanate-free ruthenium sensitizers.

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