Authors
Abstract
Use of Pt and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate together as a counter electrode (CE) significantly increases the fabrication cost of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In the present study, we report the cost effective Pt and FTO-free (Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticle coated on W substrate) CE for ZnO-based DSSCs. Phase purity, the morphology and elemental composition of synthesized ZnO, CZTS nanoparticles and films were confirmed by physical characteristics such as XRD, FEG-TEM, and FEG-SEM respectively. Cyclic voltammetry study confirmed electrochemical catalytic activity of CZTS films. DSSCs fabricated with CZTS film on W and FTO substrate as CE exhibited efficiencies of 2% and 2.8%, respectively. Conventionally used Pt-based CE demonstrated an efficiency of 3.8 %.
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