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<p>Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising new type of ecologically friendly solar panel, but their widespread application has been dragged down by the high cost and restricted supply of the platinum (Pt) needed as a counter electrode. To get around this problem, a new hybrid counter electrode made of biocarbon and cerium oxide/cobalt oxide (BC@CeO₂/Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) was made utilizing a simple hydrothermal technique. This combined arrangement used thin biocarbon nanosheets to cover evenly spaced cubic CeO₂ and Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ nanoparticles, which made a tightly packed and interrelated nanostructured assembly. Using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and TEM to look into the structure and form showed that CeO₂ and Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ crystalline phases may exist together without any noticeable lattice distortion. XPS spectra showed mixed oxidation states of Ce<sup>3+</sup>/Ce<sup>4+</sup> and Co<sup>3+</sup>/Co<sup>3+</sup>, which has implications for speeding up redox reactions at the electrode-electrolyte junction. The BET surface area analysis showed that the BC@CeO₂/ Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ composite was much better than the CeO₂/ Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ composite, with a value of 112.5 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>− 1</sup>. Because the material’s average pore diameter was about 3.5 nm, there were many places where ions could move and electrolytes could diffuse. Different electrochemical tests, like CV, Tafel, and EIS, have shown that BC@CeO₂/ Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ has a good charge-transfer efficiency. This is obvious from the low charge-transfer resistance (Rct = 1.95 Ω), low series resistance (Rs = 0.52 Ω), and high double-layer capacitance (Cdl = 36.7 mF cm<sup>− 2</sup>). The readings for the CeO₂/ Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ electrode (Cdl = 12.5 mF cm<sup>− 2</sup>) are much lower. The DSSC with the BC@CeO₂/ Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ counter electrode has a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.5%, which is higher than the CeO₂/Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ (5.6%) and the conventional Pt-based device (6.7%). The BC@CeO₂/ Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ electrode improves redox kinetics, speeds up the flow of electrons, and makes charge transfer more efficient at the interfacial boundary. This leads to excellent photovoltaic efficiency and long-term stability. So, the BC@CeO₂/ Co<sub>3</sub>O₄ hybrid material is a great, cheap, and long-lasting replacement for Pt in next-generation DSSC applications.</p>

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Biocarbon-supported CeO₂/co₃O₄ hybrid counter electrode for enhanced DSSC efficiency

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月2日

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  • P. Periyannan,
  • B. Neelakandaprasad,
  • A. Mohamed Musthafa,
  • S. Masilamani

摘要

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising new type of ecologically friendly solar panel, but their widespread application has been dragged down by the high cost and restricted supply of the platinum (Pt) needed as a counter electrode. To get around this problem, a new hybrid counter electrode made of biocarbon and cerium oxide/cobalt oxide (BC@CeO₂/Co3O4) was made utilizing a simple hydrothermal technique. This combined arrangement used thin biocarbon nanosheets to cover evenly spaced cubic CeO₂ and Co3O₄ nanoparticles, which made a tightly packed and interrelated nanostructured assembly. Using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and TEM to look into the structure and form showed that CeO₂ and Co3O₄ crystalline phases may exist together without any noticeable lattice distortion. XPS spectra showed mixed oxidation states of Ce3+/Ce4+ and Co3+/Co3+, which has implications for speeding up redox reactions at the electrode-electrolyte junction. The BET surface area analysis showed that the BC@CeO₂/ Co3O₄ composite was much better than the CeO₂/ Co3O₄ composite, with a value of 112.5 m2 g− 1. Because the material’s average pore diameter was about 3.5 nm, there were many places where ions could move and electrolytes could diffuse. Different electrochemical tests, like CV, Tafel, and EIS, have shown that BC@CeO₂/ Co3O₄ has a good charge-transfer efficiency. This is obvious from the low charge-transfer resistance (Rct = 1.95 Ω), low series resistance (Rs = 0.52 Ω), and high double-layer capacitance (Cdl = 36.7 mF cm− 2). The readings for the CeO₂/ Co3O₄ electrode (Cdl = 12.5 mF cm− 2) are much lower. The DSSC with the BC@CeO₂/ Co3O₄ counter electrode has a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.5%, which is higher than the CeO₂/Co3O₄ (5.6%) and the conventional Pt-based device (6.7%). The BC@CeO₂/ Co3O₄ electrode improves redox kinetics, speeds up the flow of electrons, and makes charge transfer more efficient at the interfacial boundary. This leads to excellent photovoltaic efficiency and long-term stability. So, the BC@CeO₂/ Co3O₄ hybrid material is a great, cheap, and long-lasting replacement for Pt in next-generation DSSC applications.