Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

31 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

Pt-free and efficient counter electrode with nanostructured CoNi2S4 for dye-sensitized solar cells.

ABSTRACT: The counter electrode has a great influence on the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The research and development of Pt-free counter electrode is becoming one of the hot areas in the field of DSSCs. Herein, we successfully synthesized a ternary metal sulfide (CoNi2S4) nanostructure on FTO substrate by hydrothermal method and investigated its application as counter electrode. The as-synthesized sample could exhibit better electrocatalystic property than that of Pt, and corresponding DSSCs have comparable conversion efficiency with typical Pt catalyzed cells. The easy synthesis, low cost and excellent electrocatalytic property may help the CoNi2S4 nanostructure stand out as an alternative counter electrode in DSSCs.

SUBMITTER: Shi Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4370042 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Publications

Pt-free and efficient counter electrode with nanostructured CoNi2S4 for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Shi Zhiwei Z Deng Kaimo K Li Liang L

Scientific reports 20150323

The counter electrode has a great influence on the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The research and development of Pt-free counter electrode is becoming one of the hot areas in the field of DSSCs. Herein, we successfully synthesized a ternary metal sulfide (CoNi2S4) nanostructure on FTO substrate by hydrothermal method and investigated its application as counter electrode. The as-synthesized sample could exhibit better electrocatalystic property than that of Pt, and corres ...[more]

PMID: 25799125

Similar Datasets

Pt-free, low-cost and efficient counter electrode with carbon wrapped VO2(M) nanofiber for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Project description:The present study reports the use of one-dimensional carbon wrapped VO2(M) nanofiber (VO2(M)/C) as a cost-effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs); where M denotes monoclinic crystal system. Uniform short length nanofiber was synthesised by a sol-gel based simple and versatile electrospinning and post carbonization technique. The investigation of nanostructure and morphological analysis were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) with EDAX. The electrochemical response was comprehensively characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel polarization. The electrochemical analysis of the VO2(M)/C nanofiber counter electrode exhibits significant electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of triiodide and low charge transfer resistance at the electrode-electrolyte interface. The DSSCs fabricated with carbon-wrapped VO2(M) nanofiber CE showed high power conversion efficiency of 6.53% under standard test condition of simulated 1SUN illumination at AM1.5 G, which was comparable to the 7.39% observed for conventional thermally decomposed Pt CE based DSSC under same test conditions. This result encourages the next step of modification and use of low-cost VO2(M) as an alternate counter electrode for DSSCs to achieve a substantial efficiency for future energy demand.

| S-EPMC6435790 | biostudies-literature

Electrochemically reduced graphene oxide multilayer films as efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Project description:We report on a new counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), which is prepared using layer-by-layer assembly of negatively charged graphene oxide and positively charged poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) followed by an electrochemical reduction procedure. The DSC devises using the heteroleptic Ru complex C106TBA as sensitizer and this new counter electrode reach power conversion efficiencies of 9.5% and 7.6% in conjunction with low volatility and solvent free ionic liquid electrolytes, respectively. The new counter electrode exhibits good durability (60°C for 1000?h in a solar simulator, 100?mW cm(-2)) during the accelerated tests when used in combination with an ionic liquid electrolyte. This work identifies a new class of electro-catalysts with potential for low cost photovoltaic devices.

| S-EPMC3601371 | biostudies-literature

Self-Assembled Graphene/MWCNT Bilayers as Platinum-Free Counter Electrode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Project description:We describe the preparation and properties of bilayers of graphene- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an alternative to conventionally used platinum-based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The counter electrodes were prepared by a simple and easy-to-implement double self-assembly process. The preparation allows for controlling the surface roughness of electrode in a layer-by-layer deposition. Annealing under N2 atmosphere improves the electrode's conductivity and the catalytic activity of graphene and MWCNTs to reduce the I3 - species within the electrolyte of the DSSC. The performance of different counter-electrodes is compared for ZnO photoanode-based DSSCs. Bilayer electrodes show higher power conversion efficiencies than monolayer graphene electrodes or monolayer MWCNTs electrodes. The bilayer graphene (bottom)/MWCNTs (top) counter electrode-based DSSC exhibits a maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.1?% exceeding the efficiency of a reference DSSC with a thin film platinum counter electrode (efficiency of 3.4?%). In addition, the double self-assembled counter electrodes are mechanically stable, which enables their recycling for DSSCs fabrication without significant loss of the solar cell performance.

| S-EPMC6972496 | biostudies-literature

NiS submicron cubes with efficient electrocatalytic activity as the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Project description:In this work, nickel sulfide (NiS) submicron cubes, synthesized by an easy hydrothermal method, were investigated as an efficient electrocatalytic material of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), to our knowledge, for the first time. Part of the NiS submicron cubes were grown together in a hydrothermal procedure and formed the connected submicron cube cluster. The NiS submicron cubes (with a diameter of 300-800 nm) showed excellent electrocatalytic activity and presented superior photovoltaic performance when it was used as an electrocatalytic material for the counter electrode (CE) of DSSCs. The CE composed of the NiS submicron cubes could achieve a photovoltaic efficiency of 6.4%, showing their superior performance compared with the typical Pt electrode (which with the corresponding conversion efficiency was 5.3% at the same condition). The low-cost NiS submicron cube electrode could be a competitive candidate to replace the traditional Pt electrode in DSSCs. The simple composition procedure of NiS submicron cubes could enable the low-cost mass production of an efficient NiS submicron cube electrode to be easily accomplished.

| S-EPMC6124119 | biostudies-literature

Platinum-free counter electrode comprised of metal-organic-framework (MOF)-derived cobalt sulfide nanoparticles for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).

Project description:We fabricated a highly efficient (with a solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency (?) of 8.1%) Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The counter electrode was made of cobalt sulfide (CoS) nanoparticles synthesized via surfactant-assisted preparation of a metal organic framework, ZIF-67, with controllable particle sizes (50 to 320?nm) and subsequent oxidation and sulfide conversion. In contrast to conventional Pt counter electrodes, the synthesized CoS nanoparticles exhibited higher external surface areas and roughness factors, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) element mapping, and electrochemical analysis. Incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) results showed an increase in the open circuit voltage (VOC) and a decrease in the short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) for CoS-based DSSCs compared to Pt-based DSSCs, resulting in a similar power conversion efficiency. The CoS-based DSSC fabricated in the study show great potential for economically friendly production of Pt-free DSSCs.

| S-EPMC4225550 | biostudies-literature

In-situ electrochemically deposited polypyrrole nanoparticles incorporated reduced graphene oxide as an efficient counter electrode for platinum-free dye-sensitized solar cells.

Project description:This paper reports a rapid and in-situ electrochemical polymerization method for the fabrication of polypyrrole nanoparticles incorporated reduced graphene oxide (rGO@PPy) nanocomposites on a ITO conducting glass and its application as a counter electrode for platinum-free dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The scanning electron microscopic images show the uniform distribution of PPy nanoparticles with diameter ranges between 20 and 30 nm on the rGO sheets. The electrochemical studies reveal that the rGO@PPy has smaller charge transfer resistance and similar electrocatalytic activity as that of the standard Pt counter electrode for the I?(-)/I(-) redox reaction. The overall solar to electrical energy conversion efficiency of the DSSC with the rGO@PPy counter electrode is 2.21%, which is merely equal to the efficiency of DSSC with sputtered Pt counter electrode (2.19%). The excellent photovoltaic performance, rapid and simple fabrication method and low-cost of the rGO@PPy can be potentially exploited as a alternative counter electrode to the expensive Pt in DSSCs.

| S-EPMC4058879 | biostudies-other

Wurtzite copper-zinc-tin sulfide as a superior counter electrode material for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Project description:Wurtzite and kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanocrystals were employed as counter electrode (CE) materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Compared to kesterite CZTS, the wurtzite CZTS exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity for catalyzing reduction of iodide electrolyte and better conductivity. Accordingly, the DSSC with wurtzite CZTS CE generated higher power conversion efficiency (6.89%) than that of Pt (6.23%) and kesterite CZTS (4.89%) CEs.

| S-EPMC4228334 | biostudies-literature

Reactively sputtered nickel nitride as electrocatalytic counter electrode for dye- and quantum dot-sensitized solar cells.

Project description:Nickel nitride electrodes were prepared by reactive sputtering of nickel under a N2 atmosphere at room temperature for application in mesoscopic dye- or quantum dot- sensitized solar cells. This facile and reliable method led to the formation of a Ni2N film with a cauliflower-like nanostructure and tetrahedral crystal lattice. The prepared nickel nitride electrodes exhibited an excellent chemical stability toward both iodide and polysulfide redox electrolytes. Compared to conventional Pt electrodes, the nickel nitride electrodes showed an inferior electrocatalytic activity for the iodide redox electrolyte; however, it displayed a considerably superior electrocatalytic activity for the polysulfide redox electrolyte. As a result, compared to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), with a conversion efficiency (η) = 7.62%, and CdSe-based quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs, η = 2.01%) employing Pt counter electrodes (CEs), the nickel nitride CEs exhibited a lower conversion efficiency (η = 3.75%) when applied to DSCs, but an enhanced conversion efficiency (η = 2.80%) when applied to CdSe-based QDSCs.

| S-EPMC5386249 | biostudies-literature

Element substitution of kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 for efficient counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Project description:Development of cost-effective counter electrode (CE) materials is a key issue for practical applications of photoelectrochemical solar energy conversion. Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) has been recognized as a potential CE material, but its electrocatalytic activity is still insufficient for the recovery of I-/I3- electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, we attempt to enhance the electrocatalytic activity of kesterite CZTS through element substitution of Zn2+ by Co2+ and Ni2+ cations, considering their high catalytic activity, as well as their similar atomic radius and electron configuration with Zn2+. The Cu2CoSnS4 (CCTS) and Cu2NiSnS4 (CNTS) CEs exhibit smaller charge-transfer resistance and reasonable power conversion efficiency (PCE) (CCTS, 8.3%; CNTS, 8.2%), comparable to that of Pt (8.3%). In contrast, the CZTS-based DSSCs only generate a PCE of 7.9%. Density functional theory calculation indicate that the enhanced catalytic performance is associated to the adsorption and desorption energy of iodine atom on the Co2+ and Ni2+. In addition, the stability of CCTS and CNTS CEs toward electrolyte is also significantly improved as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterizations. These results thus suggest the effectiveness of the element substitution strategy for developing high-performance CE from the developed materials, particularly for multicomponent compounds.

| S-EPMC5992223 | biostudies-literature

Dye-sensitized solar cell with energy storage function through PVDF/ZnO nanocomposite counter electrode.

Project description:Dye-sensitized solar cells with an energy storage function are demonstrated by modifying its counter electrode with a poly (vinylidene fluoride)/ZnO nanowire array composite. This simplex device could still function as an ordinary solar cell with a steady photocurrent output even after being fully charged. An energy storage density of 2.14 C g(-1) is achieved, while simultaneously a 3.70% photo-to-electric conversion efficiency is maintained.

| S-EPMC3796954 | biostudies-literature

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data