Bi2Se3 nanoparticles anchored MWCNTs: Counter electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry communications 2023-11, Vol.157, p.111449, Article 111449
• Main Authors: Mithari, Pooja A., Mendhe, Avinash C., Sankapal, Suraj R., Patrikar, Sujata R., Sankapal, Babasaheb R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bi2Se3/MWCNTs; Counter electrode; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Nanohybrids; SILAR
• ISSN: 1387-7003; 1879-0259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2023.111449

[Display omitted] •Anchoring of Bi2Se3 nanoparticles over ‘dip and dry’ coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using SILAR method.•The MWCNTs, Bi2Se3, and MBSe-series tested as counter electrodes (CEs) for FTO/ZnO/eosin-Y/polyiodide/CE/FTO assembly.•Due to synergistic effect in MBSe-series shows superior performance (0.52%) than bare MWCNTs (0.14%) and Bi2Se3 (0.09%).•MBSe-12 DSSC shows 7.92Ω/cm2 charge transfer resistance and 16μs electron lifetime, achieving maximum efficiency of 0.52%. Anchoring of Bi2Se3 nanoparticles over ‘dip and dry’ coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been accomplished using a room-temperature (27 °C), inexpensive, and convenient chemical route, namely, successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR), to yield a nanohybrid composite electrode to serve as a counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. The growth of Bi2Se3 on MWCNTs has been well-tuned through varying SILAR cycles (MBSe-series) and tested as counter electrodes (CEs) with reference to MWCNTs and Bi2Se3 in FTO/ZnO/Eosin-Y/Iodide-triiodide/Counter electrode/FTO assembly. Grown CEs have been validated through XRD, XPS, Raman, FTIR, and FESEM studies, while the assembled DSSCs have been assessed through JV, EQE, EIS, and electrochemical stability studies. Well-optimized Bi2Se3/MWCNTs nanohybrid composites have been used as CEs in DSSCs and showed superior device performance (0.52 %) compared to bare MWCNTs (0.14 %) and Bi2Se3 (0.09 %) due to the well-anchored Bi2Se3 over one-dimensional MWCNTs through a large number of synergistic electrochemical active sites. A DSSC fabricated with MBSe-12 as the CE exhibits enhanced stability compared to bare Bi2Se3 and MWCNTs. Also, it reveals a charge transfer resistance of 7.92 Ω/cm2 and an electron lifetime of 16 μs, yielding a maximum efficiency of 0.52 % and an external quantum efficiency of 28.20 %.