Carbon black-ZnO composite prepared using solid state method as counter electrode

Counter electrode based on carbon black (CB)-ZnO composite is proposed as cost effective alternative to conventional Pt counter electrodes used in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. CB-ZnO Composite counter electrodes with different CB weight percentages (5wt%,10wt%,15wt%,20wt%) were prepared using solid state method and coated on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass using the doctor blade method. The experimental results revealed that CB-ZnO composites influence photovoltaics performance by increasing electrocatalytic activity. As the amount of CB increases, the catalytic activity improves due to the increase in surface area which then leads to a low charge transfer resistance at electrolyte/CB electrode interface. Due to the use of a modified photoanode together with natural dye sitizers, the counter electrode based on the 15 wt% CB-ZnO composite is able to produce the highest energy.