File:Simon DyeSensitized Poster.pdf

My poster for the 2017 Undergraduate Research Symposium at Michigan Technological University. (Funded by the Charles MacArthur program, work was completed between Fall 2016-Spring 2017.)

Tungsten Disulfide as a Counter Electrode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells[edit | edit source]

Student Presenter: Simon Eddy, Materials Science & Engineering

Faculty Advisor: Yun Han Hu, Materials Science & Engineering

Introduction[edit | edit source]

With climate change becoming a major concern in today’s society, further research in alternative energy is crucial. Among the various renewable energy sources, solar energy is unarguably the largest source with potential to be scaled up to meet our energy needs. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a promising third generation photovoltaic device that can convert solar energy to electrical energy. It is composed of three main parts; the dye-sensitized photo electrode, an electrolyte solution, and a counter electrode (CE).

Materials and Methods[edit | edit source]

Currently, the standard CE for DSSCs is a platinum (Pt)-coated conductive glass. This is due to its high catalytic activity and excellent conductivity. However, the limited supply and high cost of Pt limit its practical applications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop Pt-free counter electrodes for DSSCs. In this research, Tungsten Disulfide (WS2), a highly lubricous and temperature resistant material, has been explored as CE materials for DSSCs. Furthermore, mechanical and thermal processing techniques such as ball-milling and heat treatment were employed to increase its electrical conductivity and catalytic activity.

Results and Discussion[edit | edit source]

A power conversion efficiency of 2.59% was achieved through multiple trials, indicating that WS2 is a good candidate to replace the Pt CE in DSSCs.

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Created	Unknown date by Unknown author
Uploaded	January 25, 2018 by Simon Eddy
License	CC-BY-SA-3.0