Preparation of a hierarchical porous activated carbon derived from cantaloupe peel/fly ash/PEDOT:PSS composites as Pt-free counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells
Nattakan Kanjana,
Wasan Maiaugree,
Tirapat Wechprasit,
Anusit Kaewprajak,
Pisist Kumnorkaew,
Poramed Wongjom,
Yingyot Infahsaeng
Affiliations
Nattakan Kanjana
Thammasat University Research Unit in Energy Innovations and Modern Physics (EIMP), Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Surin Campus, Surin 32000, Thailand
Wasan Maiaugree
Thammasat University Research Unit in Energy Innovations and Modern Physics (EIMP), Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; Division of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; Corresponding author.
Tirapat Wechprasit
Thammasat University Research Unit in Energy Innovations and Modern Physics (EIMP), Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; Division of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Anusit Kaewprajak
National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Pisist Kumnorkaew
National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Poramed Wongjom
Division of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Yingyot Infahsaeng
Division of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; Thammasat University Research Unit in Quantum Technology Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Hierarchical porous activated carbon/fly ash/PEDOT:PSS composites (AC:FA) for a counter electrode (CE) were created using a doctor blade technique and applied in dye sensitized solar cells. Hierarchical porous activated carbon (AC) was produced using a potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation process from cantaloupe peels (Cucumis melo L. var. cantaloupensis). AC was introduced into fly ash at various mass ratios to enhance several physical and electrochemical characteristics. Compared to bare FA, the AC:FA electrode displayed a high electrocatalytic activity for the iodide/triiodide redox (I−/I3−) reaction. The test findings show that a higher proportion of AC has an impact on a CE's catalytic activity and charge transfer resistance. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) attained 5.81 % using the AC:FA CE with AC in a mass ratio of FA in 3:1 (wt./wt.), which is very near the performance of manufactured DSSC's with a platinum (Pt)-based CE (5.91 %). The AC:FA CE stands out as a strong candidate to substitute for costly Pt CEs due to its enhanced electrochemical activity and charge transfer capabilities obtained with an inexpensive and simple production procedure.
