Highly transparent metal selenide counter electrodes for bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells.

Creation of transparent counter electrode (CE) electrocatalysts for bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is a persistent objective for reducing cost of photovoltaic conversion. We present here the experimental realization of highly transparent CuSe CEs by a mild solution method for liquid-junction bifacial DSSCs. The resultant CuSe CEs show superior electrocatalytic activity toward I 3 − reduction reaction. By optimizing the pH values in synthesizing CuSe electrodes, the maximal front efficiency of 6.21% and rear efficiency of 4.72% are recorded on the corresponding bifacial DSSC. Both catalytic activity and photovoltaic performances can be further elevated by alloying CuSe with Co or Fe, yielding promising efficiencies of 7.81% and 5.38% under front and rear irradiations, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]