Activated Carbon Films from Water Hyacinth Waste for Stable and Sustainable Counter-Electrode Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Roongroj Kamanja, Sawitree Wongrerkdee, Tipawan Rungsawang, Sutthipoj Wongrerkdee, Sucheewan Krobthong, Pichitchai Pimpang, Napat Kaewtrakulchai, Kanit Manatura

Abstract


This study explores the synthesis and application of water hyacinth-activated carbon (WHAC) as a counter-electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Characterization analyses, including X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and the N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, confirmed the polycrystalline and mesoporous nature of WHAC, whose pore size and surface area are 3.06 nm and 176.7 m2/g, respectively. WHAC films deposited on the fluorine-doped tin oxide presented rough, random surface morphologies and thicknesses at higher concentrations. Optimized WHAC-based DSSCs presented a 1.40 ± 0.16% power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to the 1.66 ± 0.26% presented by the standard platinum-based counter-electrodes. The efficiency improvement in the case of the WHAC-based DSSCs was the result of efficient electron transport, evident from the low sheet resistance and stable redox characteristics. The findings suggest WHAC is a promising and sustainable catalytic material for DSSC counter-electrodes.

Keywords


A dye-sensitized solar cell; Activated carbon; Catalytic material; Counter-electrode; Film

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/ijost.v10i1.80970

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