Synthesis of SnO2 Nanoparticles by Electrooxidation Method and Their Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: The Influence of the Counterion

A fast and facile electrochemical method called electrooxidation was used to prepare SnO2 nanoparticles. In this route, a sacrificial tin anode is dissolved in an electrolyte by applying a voltage to an electrochemical cell. We used different electrolyte environments, namely tetramethylammonium chloride and different counterions of tetrabutylammonium cation, viz. Br−, Cl−, and ClO4−. Characterization results showed that the size distribution was more uniform for the nanoparticles created with Br− and Cl− counterions. Furthermore, the particles in these samples were smaller than in the others. The amount of OH groups on the surface of the Br− and Cl− samples was higher than for the other samples, enhancing dye adsorption. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated from the produced SnO2 nanoparticles, and the influence of the different counterions on their performance was investigated. By varying the counterion in the electrolyte, samples with different hydrophilic nature and dye-loading ability were obtained. The dye adsorption and consequently the current density of the cell made from the Br− solution were higher than for the other samples, and the power conversion efficiency in this case reached 1.5%.