LAUSR

Abstract This work aims to replace the expansive counter electrode material such as Platinum with low-cost lead sulfide (PbS). Here, lead xanthate was used as a precursor material to synthesize PbS. The precursor material of different concentrations were spray coated on conductive glass substrates and then heated in air at different temperatures and time intervals. The cubical crystals of PbS were formed when heated at 120 °C for 2 h. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses were conducted to substantiate the PbS nanocrystals free of any precursor materials. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) was performed to inspect the electrochemical performance of PbS crystals. The results found here show that PbS as a catalyst material shows good catalytic activity at the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Under optimal conditions, DSSC with PbS shows the power-conversion-efficiency (PCE) of 4.71%, which is slightly lower than that of Pt-based device (5.34%), fabricated under similar conditions.