Applications of Cu@C Nanoparticles in New Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract EN

To enhance the efficiency of a newly developing dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), the Cu@C (Cu size=7 and 20 nm) core-shell nanoparticles-dispersed molten salt-conjugated electrolyte has been studied.

Experimentally, the efficiencies (η) of the DSSC are in the range of 2.70–4.09% with a short-circuit photocurrent density (JSC) of 5.775–9.910 mA/cm2.

Interestingly, it is found that dispersion of 1% of the Cu@C (Cu size=7 nm) nanoparticles in the molten salt-(1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (DMPII)) conjugated electrolyte results in an enhancement (about 11%) of the η (4.06%).

Greater fractions (3–10%) of the Cu@C nanoparticles dispersed in the molten salt cause a poor performance (lower JSC and η) of the DSSC possibly due to interference of the internal electron transportation routes in the DSSC by oxidation of Cu with I2 originally in the electrolyte.