Influences of magnesium particles incorporated on electrophoretically multiwall carbon nanotube film on dye-sensitized solar cell performance

Multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) films are prepared on a conductive substrate by electrophoretic deposition. The thickness of MWCNT films is found to increase with the carbon nanotube concentration and the deposition duration. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray measurements detect magnesium particles incorporated on the MWCNT films. The performance of dye-sensitized solar cell using the electrophoretically MWCNT films as a counter electrode shows a relationship dependent on the film thickness and the amount of magnesium loading. The increase in the magnesium loading on carbon films diminishes the solar cell efficiency. This is because magnesium particles cover the carbon nanotube surface reducing the nanotube catalytic sites and blocking electron transfer to tri-iodide (I3−) ions.