The Application of Carbon Fabric Coated with Polyaniline as a Sensitive Color Solar Cell Cathode

In this study, the electrocatalytic properties and photovoltaic conversion efficiency of carbon fabric coated with polyaniline using different polymerization techniques were investigated as dye sensitized solar cell counter electrode. The electropolymerized PANI carbon fabric possesses higher electrocatalytic activity than oxidative and vapor chemical polymerized PANI. The overall energy conversion efficiency of the DSSC with electropolymerized PANI counter electrode reaches 3.85%. Even though the achieved photovoltaic conversion efficiency by electropolymerized PANI carbon fabric is less than the Pt with 7.42% conversion efficiency, this electrode offers advantages of flexibility and light weight, and can be used as energy supplier in smart textiles. Moreover, due to the considerable increase in open circuit voltage of electropolymerized PANI carbon fabric compare to Pt electrode, utilizing some modifications in polymerization procedure which will lead to higher short circuit current and fill factor, it is possible to enhance photovoltaic conversion efficiency.