Electrochemical and Structural Properties of Organic Carbon Based Counter Electrode (CE) for DSSCs

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are the important class of solar cells that are currently gaining the attention of scientists and researchers. The replacement of platinum-based counter electrode with activated carbon can make them cost effective for different energy storage and conversion processes. In this regard, employing biomass derived activated carbon-based materials as counter electrode is of keen interest in which carbonization process positively affect the overall properties of activated carbon and make it suitable for use in DSSCs. In this research, synthesis and properties of activated carbon derived from hemp using chemical activation process and its properties has been studied. Initially the hemp leaves were carbonized at 750°C followed by the activation using H
2
O
2
. Carbonaceous counter electrode containing Hemp activated carbon (HAC) was then fabricated by doctor blade coating technique on FTO glass substrate. Different characterization techniques like XRD, FTIR, SEM, Raman Spectroscopy and Cyclic Voltammetry were used. The surface morphology was examined by SEM and it shows the development of regular porous structure indicating presence of large amount of active sites. The crystalline and graphite nature of HAC was determined by X-Ray Diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Electrocatalytic activity was studied using cyclic voltammetry. This study shows that activated carbon derived using hemp can be used as efficient counter electrode material.