An efficient platform based on strontium titanate nanocubes interleaved polypyrrole nanohybrid as counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract

Abstract In the present work, we have synthesized polypyrrole incorporated with SrTiO3 nanoparticles by oxidative polymerization method. The prepared samples were thoroughly characterized by various instrumental methods for the crystallinity and crystal structure, chemical bonding, optical nature, morphology, elemental composition, etc. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed highly crystalline SrTiO3 nanoparticle. With the addition of SrTiO3 in PPy, a highly crystalline PPy-SrTiO3 nanocomposite was achieved. Moreover, this confirms the formation of evenly distributed nanoparticle-polymer interaction. The FESEM images revealed that the PPy exhibited nanosphere morphology. Further, SrTiO3 showed the nanocubes morphology, and it shows the high crystallinity of SrTiO3. The elemental mapping images show the details about the elemental distribution of SrTiO3 nanocubes into the polymeric chain of PPy. The EDX spectrum indicated the presence of C, Ti, O, Sr, N, and Si in the synthesized nanocomposite. The successful formation of the prepared composites and optical properties were confirmed by the FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopic analysis. In the evolution of electronic circuits and optoelectronic devices, it is crucially significant but remains challenging to fabricate a new electrode that switches the traditional platinum (Pt) and indium counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These conventionally used counter electrodes exhibit noticeable cons such as chemical instability, high cost, and complex fabrication when used in DSSCs. Therefore, the unaided PPy electrode as a counter electrode of DSSC showed a very low efficiency of 1.29%. However, the incorporation of SrTiO3 into the poly matrix of PPy enhanced the surface area, electrocatalytic response towards the redox system, and also showed low charge transfer resistance. Among other concentrations, the PPy-SrTiO3-50% as the counter electrode of DSSC achieved the power conversion efficiency of 2.52% which is higher than that of sputtered Pt i.e. 2.17%.