Chapter 17
Conducting Polymers as Cost Effective
Counter Electrode Material
in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Shanal Shalindra Bandara Gunasekera, Ishanie Rangeeka Perera
and Samodha Subhashini Gunathilaka
Abstract Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are third generation photovoltaic
devices capable of harvesting solar energy to generate electricity. DSCs have gained
significant research interest during past decades due to its high theoretical power
conversion efficiencies and most importantly the cost effectiveness and environment
friendly fabrication process. Firstly, in this chapter, the function of the counter electrode (CE) in a DSC has been discussed in brief. The CE participates in the electron
transfer from the external circuit back to the redox mediator thereby catalyzing its
regeneration reaction. In the state of art DSCs, Pt has been the preferred CE material.
Properties such as promising conductivity and high electrocatalytic activity towards
the process of reduction of I
−
3 to I
− which is the typical redox mediator, contributes to
its applicability as the preferred CE material. However, the use of Pt CE adhere major
drawbacks such as the high cost and its susceptibility to undergo corrosion. These
limitations have emphasized the importance of exploring alternative cost effective
functional materials with better conductivity and electrocatalytic properties. Subsequently, the limitations of using Pt as the CE materials, and the advantages and
challenges associated with alternative materials have been elaborated. Conducting
polymers with extended conjugate electron systems are a promising substitute material for Pt in DSCs. A wide range of conducting polymers and polymer hybrid composites have been investigated for their applicability as CEs in DSCs. These polymers
have gained popularity not just due to cost effectiveness compared to Pt but also due
to their promising conductivity, superior electrocatalytic properties, easy preparation
and fabrication. Different types of conjugated polymers and polymer hybrid composites, their synthetic methods, fabrication processes and their respective photovoltaic
performances are then reviewed. Finally, the future prospects of conducting polymers
as CE material has been discussed.
S. S. B. Gunasekera · I. R. Perera · S. S. Gunathilaka (B)
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of
Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
e-mail: subhashinig@pdn.ac.lk
S. S. B. Gunasekera
e-mail: shanalgunasekera@gmail.com
I. R. Perera
e-mail: ishanieperera@pdn.ac.lk
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
H. Tyagi et al. (eds.), Solar Energy, Energy, Environment,
and Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0675-8_17
345
Conducting Polymers as Cost Effective
Counter Electrode Material
in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Shanal Shalindra Bandara Gunasekera, Ishanie Rangeeka Perera
and Samodha Subhashini Gunathilaka
Abstract Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are third generation photovoltaic
devices capable of harvesting solar energy to generate electricity. DSCs have gained
significant research interest during past decades due to its high theoretical power
conversion efficiencies and most importantly the cost effectiveness and environment
friendly fabrication process. Firstly, in this chapter, the function of the counter electrode (CE) in a DSC has been discussed in brief. The CE participates in the electron
transfer from the external circuit back to the redox mediator thereby catalyzing its
regeneration reaction. In the state of art DSCs, Pt has been the preferred CE material.
Properties such as promising conductivity and high electrocatalytic activity towards
the process of reduction of I
−
3 to I
− which is the typical redox mediator, contributes to
its applicability as the preferred CE material. However, the use of Pt CE adhere major
drawbacks such as the high cost and its susceptibility to undergo corrosion. These
limitations have emphasized the importance of exploring alternative cost effective
functional materials with better conductivity and electrocatalytic properties. Subsequently, the limitations of using Pt as the CE materials, and the advantages and
challenges associated with alternative materials have been elaborated. Conducting
polymers with extended conjugate electron systems are a promising substitute material for Pt in DSCs. A wide range of conducting polymers and polymer hybrid composites have been investigated for their applicability as CEs in DSCs. These polymers
have gained popularity not just due to cost effectiveness compared to Pt but also due
to their promising conductivity, superior electrocatalytic properties, easy preparation
and fabrication. Different types of conjugated polymers and polymer hybrid composites, their synthetic methods, fabrication processes and their respective photovoltaic
performances are then reviewed. Finally, the future prospects of conducting polymers
as CE material has been discussed.
S. S. B. Gunasekera · I. R. Perera · S. S. Gunathilaka (B)
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of
Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
e-mail: subhashinig@pdn.ac.lk
S. S. B. Gunasekera
e-mail: shanalgunasekera@gmail.com
I. R. Perera
e-mail: ishanieperera@pdn.ac.lk
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
H. Tyagi et al. (eds.), Solar Energy, Energy, Environment,
and Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0675-8_17
345