Biomass-derived carbon boosted catalytic properties of tungsten-based nanohybrids for accelerating the triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Manganese tungstate (MnWO), zinc tungstate (ZnWO), and copper tungstate (CuWO) embedded biomass-derived carbon (MWO-C, ZWO-C, CWO-C) was synthesized by hydrothermal treatment and investigated as counter electrode (CE) catalysts to test electrochemical activity. Biomass-derived carbon was used as the shape controlling agent, which changed the morphology of MWO from spherical to spindle-like. Owing to the synergistic effect between tungsten-based bimetal oxides and biomass-derived carbon, the MWO-C, ZWO-C, and CWO-C catalysts exhibited enhanced electrochemical performance in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) system.