A carbon-nanotubes counter electrode for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are an attractive alternative to conventional crystalline silicon solar cells because of their low-cost, relatively high photon-to-current conversion efficiency for low energy consumption and simple fabrication process. The dye-sensitized solar cell consists of the following components: a photoanode, a dye, an electrolyte, and a counter electrode. The counter electrode is a crucial element, in which the triiodide is reduced to iodide by electrons flowing through the external circuit. Platinum is the most used material for a counter electrode in DSSCs, due to its electrocatalytic activity towards I₃ - reduction. However, the use of platinum may not be a suitable option because of its high cost. Additionally, to achieve widespread application of next-generation photovoltaics, it is important to develop flexible devices. Given this, the paper presents the influence of mechanical stress arising from the bending of a flexible substrate on the morphology, the resistance of counter electrode based on carbon nanotubes as well as the electrical properties of dye-sensitized solar cells.