Busan National University Develops Carbon-Based Electrode to Replace Platinum... 43% Efficiency Boost in Fiber-Shaped Solar Cells

A research team at Busan National University has developed a new carbon-based electrode material that can replace conventional platinum (Pt) electrodes, significantly boosting the performance of fiber-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells (FDSSC).

Busan National University (President Choi Jaewon) announced on August 27 that a research team led by Professor Hyungwoo Lee from the Department of Nano Energy Engineering has developed a "Core-Sheath Carbon Nanotube Yarn (CSCNY)" electrode, which can be manufactured entirely through a dry process. By applying this electrode to FDSSC, the team achieved an efficiency improvement of over 43% compared to conventional platinum-based devices.

Busan National University research team (from left: Hyungwoo Lee, Jinwoo Oh, Myungkwan Song, Youngkwon Kim, Chaeyoung Woo). Provided by Busan National University

The research team synthesized vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT), produced single CNT yarns using a dry-spinning method, and reinforced them by twisting multiple strands and coating them with a CNT film to complete the CSCNY electrode. This structure reduces internal stress and suppresses twisting and unraveling, thereby ensuring both electrical performance and durability.

As a result, the FDSSC equipped with the CSCNY electrode recorded a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.25%, with both open-circuit voltage (VOC) and fill factor (FF) improved compared to platinum electrodes. In particular, the device was successfully used as a power source for electronic devices when applied to actual fiber structures, and maintained stable output even after more than 450 bending tests and over 200 hours of continuous operation.

Professor Hyungwoo Lee stated, "It is highly significant to have realized a carbon-based solar cell electrode with high efficiency, flexibility, and durability using only a dry process," adding, "This technology can be applied in various fields such as flexible electronic devices, smart clothing, and power sources for wearable sensors in the future."

This research was jointly led by Professors Hyungwoo Lee and Jinwoo Oh of Busan National University and Dr. Myungkwan Song of the Korea Institute of Materials Science, with Youngkwon Kim, a doctoral student, and Chaeyoung Woo, a postdoctoral researcher, as co-first authors.

The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea, and was published in the international journal 'Small Structures' on July 30.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.