Premium
Template‐free synthesis of polyaniline nanobelts as a catalytic counter electrode in dye‐sensitized solar cells
Author(s) -
Lan Zhang,
Wu Jihuai,
Gao Suwen,
Lin Jianming,
Huang Miaoliang,
Chen Xiaomin
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.3246
Subject(s) - auxiliary electrode , materials science , polyaniline , electrode , dye sensitized solar cell , chemical engineering , working electrode , aqueous solution , solar cell , electrochemistry , electrolyte , composite material , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , polymerization , polymer , chemistry , engineering
Polyaniline (PAn) nanobelts were synthesized by simply mixing aniline and hydrochloric acid aqueous solution with ammonium peroxydisulfate and hydrochloric acid aqueous solution at room temperature without any templates. The PAn nanobelt paste with polytetrafluoroethylene as binder is proper for low‐cost and efficient casting processes such as doctor blade method, screen printing, spin‐casting, and even roll‐to‐roll painting. The porous network structure of the PAn nanobelt counter electrode was obtained after drying the paste on the conductive glass. The as‐prepared PAn nanobelt counter electrode showed nearly equivalent electrochemical catalytic activity as that of thermal decomposed Pt counter electrode, owing to the well‐connected conductive network and high active surface area. The power conversion efficiency of dye‐sensitized solar cell with PAn nanobelt counter electrode attained 90% of the value of the cell with Pt counter electrode. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.