Low-Cost Molybdenum Carbide and Tungsten Carbide Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Carbide-based catalysts, MoC and WC embedded in ordered nanomesoporous carbon were developed for the redn. of triiodide in DSSCs. CV, EIS, Tafel polarization, and photocurrent/voltage tests confirm the excellent catalytic activity of the synthesized carbide-based composites - comparable to that of expensive Pt catalyst prepd. through pyrolysis. Com. Mo2C and WC particles also effectively catalyze the redn. of triiodide to iodide despite their large particle size. The results show that the addn. of P25 and CD (carbon dye) improves the adhesion, the catalytic activity and the cond. of Mo2C and WC electrodes. The optimum amts. of added P25 and CD added were also detd. Results demonstrate that molybdenum and tungsten carbides are potential alternatives to the expensive and scarce Pt in low-cost DSSCs.