Carbon-based Counter Electrodes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells: State-of-art Progress, Challenges and Perspectives

Abstract As one representative of the third-generation solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted great interests in the photovoltaic field. Counter electrode (CE) is one of crucial components in DSSCs, which functions as the collector of electrons from the external circuit and catalyzing the reduction of I₃^-. In general, platinum (Pt) metal is commonly used as the CE of DSSCs, which has disadvantages including the limited reserves, the high cost, and the electrochemical instability, resulting in the high cost of DSSCs and limited applications in large scale. As such, it is urgent to develop counter electrode materials with low price, high efficiency, and good stability. Carbon materials with low cost, high conductivity and good stability have shown great potential to supersede the noble Pt. In this review, recent research progress of carbon-based CEs in DSSCs is summarized in detail, including porous carbon, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphdiyne and MOF-derived carbon. The structural characteristics and the preparation methods of various functional carbon catalysts are analyzed and compared. The regulation of the properties of carbon materials (e.g., the atomic/electronic properties, the confined structures, the surface/interface properties, and the defects) on the mass transfer, charge transfer, and corresponding electrocatalytic activities have been addressed in detail. Finally, the challenges and the perspectives of carbon-based CEs are outlined.

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	Xiao Dong
	Meng Xiangtong
	Ma Yangjun
	Qiu Jieshan

Keywords： dye-sensitized solar cells； counter electrodes； I₃^- reduction； carbon materials

Received 2020-12-13;

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Xiao Dong, Meng Xiangtong, Ma Yangjun, Qiu Jieshan.Carbon-based Counter Electrodes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells: State-of-art Progress, Challenges and Perspectives[J] Chemcial Industry and Engineering, 2021,V38(1): 1-26

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