Electropolymerization of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and functionalized, multi-walled, carbon nanotubes counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells and characterization of its performance

Graphical abstract: Display Omitted Research highlights: → PEDOT-MWCNT and PEDOT as the counter electrodes of DSSCs. → The counter electrodes fabricated by a electropolymerization method. → PEDOT-MWCNT films were more porous than PEDOT films. → The energy conversion efficiency with PEDOT-MWCNT was 13.0% higher than with PEDOT. - Abstract: Composite films of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and functionalized, multi-walled, carbon nanotubes (PEDOT-MWCNT) were fabricated by a simple oxidative electropolymerization method. These films were formed on fluorine-doped, tin oxide, glass substrates as counter electrodes (CEs) of platinum-free, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The surface morphology, formation mechanism and electrochemical nature of PEDOT-MWCNT films were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and alternating current (AC) impedance spectroscopy. The SEM and AFM images showed that PEDOT-MWCNT films were more porous than PEDOT films. CV and AC impedance spectroscopy revealed that the PEDOT-MWCNT electrode had higher electrocatalytic activity for the I3-/I- redox reaction and a smaller charge transfer resistance than the PEDOT electrodes. The energy conversion efficiency of the DSSC with a PEDOT-MWCNT CE was 13.0% higher than with a PEDOT CE using the same conditions with a ruthenium sensitizer.