N-doped mesocarbon microbeads-carbon nanotubes as high performance counter electrodes of a dye-sensitized solar cell

N-doped mesocarbon microbeads-carbonnanotubes (N-MCMB-CNT) hybridare designed and directly explored as counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). In this hybrid, the CNTs are anchored onto the graphene-like nanoplatelets of N-MCMB-CNT, and weave closely with each other to form a continuous network. This CNTs network bridges the gap between graphene-like nanoplatelets and acts as a wire for electron transfer between N-MCMB and CNTs. Furthermore, a high amount of pyridinic N and graphitic N atoms is doped to enhance the reactivity and electrocatalytic performance of N-MCMB-CNT. Integrating superior conductivity and electrocatalytic activity, the device with N-MCMB-CNT CE yield overall conversion efficiency of 6.08%, which is compared to that of the device with Pt CE (6.37%). (C) 2018 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.