Palladium nanoparticles on nitrogen doped acetylene carbon black as an efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

In order to make economic and efficient dye-sensitized solar cells, a counter electrode of nitrogen doped acetylene carbon black decorated palladium nanopartides is prepared via a facile route. Dye-sensitized solar cell composed of nitrogen doped acetylene carbon black decorated palladium nanoparticles exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 7.95%, which is better than the cell composed of Pt counter electrode. Based on a series of characterizations, It has been detected that this counter electrode has a better catalytic activity than Pt and will facilitate the reduction reaction of I-3(-)/I- rapidly. Moreover, the lower electron recombination rate and rapid electron transport which caused by the improved surface engineering of nitrogen doped acetylene carbon black decorated palladium nanoparticles are proved to be other important factors for enhancing photovoltaic properties. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.