SOLAR ENERGY
·
2021
·
IF 5.742
Abdelaal S.A. Ahmed,Wanchun Xiang,Fatma S.M. Hashem,Xiujian Zhao
Platinum (Pt)-based counter electrodes (CEs) are promising electrocatalysts for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). However, replacing the expensive Pt with low-cost materials and comparable catalytic activity still a big challenge. Here, we prepared CB-SiO 2 composites by blending various weights of SiO 2 (1, 3, and 5 wt%) with carbon black (CB), followed by screen printed onto the FTO substrate to utilized as CEs for DSSCs. In comparison with pure CB, CB-SiO 2 composite CEs showed higher transferability and higher electrocatalytic activity toward I 3 - / I - redox couple. Among all, CB-SiO 2 -1% composite CE with 4 µm showed the best catalytic performance, and the related DSSC showed a power conversion efficiency of 6.38%. Increasing the CE thickness significantly enhances the catalytic ability and the total performance of the assembled devices, whereas the power conversion efficiency of the DSSC with CB-SiO 2 -1% composite CE in 8 µm thick was 7.99%, which is close to that achieved by Pt-based device under the same conditions.
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源研究
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
ACS Applied Energy Materials
·
2021
·
IF 6.024
Ya Xu,Yin Huang,Hang Zhong,Wenbo Li,Duoling Cao,Congqiang Zhang,Huaxi Bao,Zhiguang Guo,Li Wan,Xu Zhang,Xiuhua Zhang,Yuebin Li,Xianbao Wang,Dominik Eder,Shimin Wang
Methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (MAPbI3) demonstrates the disadvantage of poor long-term stability. Additive engineering is an effective measure to address this issue. We have successfully used an organic molecule called p-methylbenzoammonium iodate (p-MePMAI) as an additive to a perovskite precursor. Results showed that p-MePMAI is an excellent additive with functional groups of benzyl and ammonium ions that can improve the performance and stability of carbon counter electrode (CE)-based MAPbI3 perovskite solar cells. Benzene rings and ammonium ion functional groups of p-MePMAI can electrostatically interact with MAPbI3 when a proper amount of p-MePMAI is added. Moreover, the conjugated structure of the benzene ring can effectively reduce the number of trap states in the perovskite film and significantly inhibit nonradiative recombination, further promoting charge transport. The photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of our prepared carbon CE-based MAPbI3 perovskite solar cells increases from 12.76 to 14.54% with the optimization of p-MePMAI. Notably, the device optimized using p-MePMAI additives maintains 85% of the initial PCE after 500 h.
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源技术
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
Materials
·
2023
·Vol. 16
·期 13
·4743
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IF 3.4
Jianming Wen,Suqin Chen,You Xu,Tuxiang Guan,Xiaoyan Zhang,Ningzhong Bao
Two-dimensional Cu2FeSnS4(CFTS) nanosheets with exposed high-energy facets (111) have been synthesized by a facile, scalable, and cost-effective one-pot heating process. The CFTS phase formation is confirmed by both X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The formation mechanism of exposed high-energy facet CFTS growth is proposed and its electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties are investigated in detail to reveal the origin of the anisotropic effect of the high-energy facets. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) achieve a favorable power conversion efficiency of 5.92% when employing CFTS thin film as a counter electrode, suggesting its potential as a cost-effective substitute for Pt in DSSCs.Keywords:Cu2FeSnS4nanosheets;high-energy facets;counter electrode;dye-sensitized solar cells
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ELECTROCHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
·
2020
·
IF 4.333
Jihuai Wu,Shaoyun Wu,Weihai Sun
A polyoxometalate (H 3 PW 12 O 40 , PW 12 )-doped polypyrrole (PW 12 -PPy) hybrid film was successfully prepared by electropolymerization. The PW 12 -PPy composite film was used as an efficient Pt-free counter electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The surface appearance, chemical composition and internal phase structure of the samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements recorded using the prepared electrodes indicate that the PW 12 -PPy electrode has a higher reduction peak current density and a smaller series resistance than the Pt electrode, suggesting that the electrocatalytic activity of the PW 12 -PPy electrode for I 3 − reduction is better than that of the Pt electrode. Under simulated solar irradiation (AM 1.5) with an intensity of 100 mW⋅cm −2 , the DSSC based on the PW 12 -PPy counter electrode produces an average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.19%; this efficiency value is on a par with that of similar devices using Pt as the cathode (6.25%).
研究领域:
材料科学
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化学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
·
2015
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IF 4.642
Shanlong Chen,Aichun Xu,Jie Tao,Haijun Tao,Yizhou Shen,Lumin Zhu,Jiajia Jiang,Tao Wang,Lei Pan
A novel in-situ and green method with the combination of TiCl4 pretreatment and solvothermal growth was proposed to prepare the Pt-free Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) counter electrodes (CEs) on FTO substrate. It was found that TiCl4 pretreatment toward the substrates was crucial to a high quality and high efficiency CZTS film, which consists of nanosheet and nanoparticle structure. The highly crystallized nanosheets were assembled from kesterite structure CZTS nanocrystals, with an average diameter of 10–30 nm. The detailed morphology, crystal structure, and composition of the CZTS nanostructures were characterized by SEM, TEM, SAED, XRD, Raman, and EDS analysis, respectively. Electrocatalytic abilities of the films toward I–/I3– were verified through cyclic voltammograms (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel polarization measurements. A maximum power conversion efficiency of 5.65% was achieved for a cell with CZTS 3, under 100 mW/cm2, which was higher than that of a cell with a commercial Pt counter electrode (4.96%). This high efficiency was mainly attributed to the good bonding strength between CZTS films and FTO substrate (RS = 4.41 Ω cm2), and higher electron-transfer process at the electrolyte/CE interface (high JSC), along with superior electrochemical catalytic ability (RCt = 2.40 Ω cm2). The in-situ prepared CZTS CEs are proven to be suitable for high efficiency Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), leading to significantly decrease of the cell cost and simplification of preparation process.
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源科学
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纳米技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
SOLAR ENERGY
·
2021
·
IF 5.742
Yin Huang,Hang Zhong,Wenbo Li,Duoling Cao,Ya Xu,Li Wan,Xu Zhang,Xiuhua Zhang,Yuebin Li,Xiaomimg Ren,Zhiguang Guo,Xianbao Wang,Dominik Eder,Shimin Wang
The potential of perovskite solar cells as a representative alternative to silicon-based solar cells has become significant owing to their unparalleled advancement in efficiency. However, the intrinsic instability of perovskite still hinders their large-scale commercial application, particularly of the decomposition of perovskite during device operation. To address this issue, an acetate-ion-functionalized polar ionic liquid, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (AMIMOAc), is used as an additive in MAPbI 3 film. FTIR spectroscopy measurements show that AMIMOAc can anchor the organic cations via hydrogen bonding and enhance the Pb–O interaction in modified MAPbI 3 , leading to a continuous and dense morphology to increase the stability of MAPbI 3 . After optimizing the concentration of AMIMOAc, an additional interfacial modification layer accelerates the electron extraction and transport. By the synergy of both additive engineering and interface modification, the device not only achieves a high efficiency of 15.16%, but also maintains 93% of the initial PCE after 500 h, showing significantly improved stability. These results pave the way to a new strategy to improve efficiency and long-term stability of carbon counter electrode-based PSCs.
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
·
2018
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IF 5.116
Beili Pang,Shan Lin,Yongtang Shi,Yingying Wang,Yingjie Chen,Shuai Ma,Jianguang Feng,Chunkai Zhang,Liyan Yu,Lifeng Dong
A novel nanocomposite of CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles with graphene nanosheet (CoFe 2 O 4 /GN) is prepared as a counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The size of CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles is about 3 nm, and the influence of CoFe 2 O 4 on the electrochemical properties of graphene is studied. The CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles anchored on graphene nanosheets can serve as spacers to prevent graphene aggregations and thereby provide efficient diffusion pathways and more active surface area for electrolyte molecules. Also, the CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles with substantial catalytic activity accelerate the reduction of triiodide. Meanwhile the graphene improves charge transfer during the catalytic process. Compared with CoFe 2 O 4 , graphene, and Pt electrodes, the CoFe 2 O 4 /GN electrode displays higher catalytic activity because of its minimal charge transfer resistance. The DSSCs fabricated with CoFe 2 O 4 /GN demonstrate an improved photoelectric conversion efficiency of 9.04% in comparison to Pt electrodes (6.54%). This study suggests that CoFe 2 O 4 /GN can replace expensive Pt electrodes for large-scale fabrication of low cost and high efficiency DSSCs.
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
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2018
·Vol. 42
·期 14
·11715-11723
·
IF 3.201
Abdelaal S. A. Ahmed,Wanchun Xiang,Anna Gu,Xiaowei Hu,Ibrahim Amiinu Saana,Xiujian Zhao
A carbon black–silicon nitride (CB–Si3N4) nanocomposite is prepared as a cost-effective counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The CB–Si3N4 nanocomposite is coated on an FTO substrate via the screen printing method. The results demonstrate that when the thickness is fixed at 4.7 μm the CB–Si3N4 composite CE exhibits lower charge transfer resistance and higher electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of tri-iodide over the CB and Si3N4 electrodes. The CB–Si3N4-3% CE achieves the best catalytic activity and the prepared DSSC shows a power conversion efficiency of 8.06%. As the thickness of the CB–Si3N4-3% CE increases, the electrocatalytic ability is enhanced, and the charge transfer resistance at the electrolyte/CE interface decreases. The overall performance of the CB–Si3N4-3% CE with a thickness of 14.1 μm is comparable to that of Pt-doped CEs. Furthermore, a DSSC equipped with CB–Si3N4-3% CEs of 14.1 μm thickness exhibits a high efficiency of 8.37%, which is comparable to that of the Pt-based DSSC (8.50%). The simple preparation technique, outstanding electrocatalytic activity, and low cost of production allow the CB–Si3N4 nanocomposite to be a promising and efficient CE for DSSCs.
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
MATERIALS LETTERS
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2022
·
IF 3.574
K.P. Li,Z.Z. Liu,Y.Q. Zhang,X.B. Yang,B. Zhou,Z.X. Xie,Z.Q. Duan,Y.M. Hu
The most used counter electrodes (CEs) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are made of platinum (Pt). However, the cost of Pt CEs is expensive. In addition, the poor corrosion resistance of Pt in liquid electrolytes hinders commercialization of DSCs. Sulfides are potential CE materials due to their excellent catalytic performance and low cost. Nanocrystalline Cu 2 Cu 1-x-y Fe x Mn y SnS 4 (CCFMTS) CEs were fabricated using Fe and Mn co-alloyed Cu 3 SnS 4 (CTS) by an easy process of a spin-coating coupled with a post annealing. Electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of the DSCs assembled with the CCFMTS CEs were analyzed by EIS, Tafel and J-V tests. Electrochemical results show that series resistance ( R s ) and charge transfer impedance ( R ct ) at the CE/electrolyte interface of the cells decreased by 21.68% compared with the cell with unalloyed CTS CE, while exchange current density ( J 0 ) and limiting diffusion current density ( J lim ) were increased, which indicates conductivity and electrocatalytic activity of the CEs were improved after the co-alloying. As a consequence, the maximum actual output power ( P max ) of the cells was enhanced. In the optimal case, photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.16% was achieved which is 84.83% of that of the cell with Pt CE.
研究领域:
材料科学
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电化学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Materials Chemistry Frontiers
·
2021
·Vol. 5
·期 6
·2702-2714
·
IF 6.482
Arnauld Robert Tapa,Wanchun Xiang,Abdelaal. S. A. Ahmed,Senwei Wu,Bin Li,Qiufen Liu,Chawuch Machar Jacob Chuti,Xiujian Zhao
In this work, we employ a simple hydrothermal method to synthesize a metal–organic framework (MOF) derived selenide from a reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/structured zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF). The resulting MOF-derived selenide (rGO/ZnSe/CoSe2) consists of porous nanowires encapsulated in a carbon matrix and having a high surface area (169.30 m2 g−1). This porous rGO/ZnSe/CoSe2 is combined with polystyrene sulfonate-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT:PSS) for use as a CE for DSSCs. CEs based on different weight percentages (1, 3, and 5 wt%) of rGO/ZnSe/CoSe2 powder in PEDOT:PSS solution are compared with the commonly used platinum (Pt) based CE. The rGO/ZnSe/CoSe2–PEDOT:PSS composite benefits from the synergistic effects between porous rGO/ZnSe/CoSe2 having a high surface area and PEDOT:PSS which holds superior conductivity and strong binding capability with a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate. Therefore, the 3 wt% rGO/ZnSe/CoSe2–PEDOT:PSS composite based CE achieved a good stability and superior electrocatalytic activity compared to Pt CE. Furthermore, DSSCs based on a 3 wt% rGO/ZnSe/CoSe2–PEDOT:PSS composite CE achieved a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.60%, compared to the PCE of the Pt CE based DSSC (7.14%) prepared under similar conditions. This work has revealed a new approach to prepare MOF-derived selenide based CEs with high electrocatalytic activity without any calcination. In addition, we demonstrated that the low-cost 3 wt% rGO/ZnSe/CoSe2–PEDOT:PSS composite CE is an excellent candidate to replace Pt CE in DSSCs.
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源科学
·
纳米技术
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
ACS Omega
·
2021
·
IF 3.512
Kezhong Wu,Yingshan Wu,Pengyuan Fu,Dandan Yang,Bei Ruan,Mingxing Wu,Ruitao Wu
To replace precious Pt-based counter electrodes (CEs) with a low-cost Pt-free catalyst of CEs is still a motivating hotspot to decrease the fabrication cost of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, four different V2O3@C composite catalysts were synthesized by pyrolysis of a precursor under N2 flow at 1100 °C and further served as catalytic materials of CEs for the encapsulation of DSSCs. The precursors of V2O3@C composites have been prepared via a sol–gel method using different proportions of V2O5 with soluble starch in a H2O2 solution. Power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 3.59, 4.79, 5.15, and 5.06% were obtained from different V2O3@C composites, with soluble starch-to-V2O5 mass ratios (S/V) of 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1, respectively, as CEs to reduce iodide/triiodide in DSSCs. The improvement of electrode performance is due to the combined effects on the increased specific surface area and the enhanced conductivity of V2O3@C composite catalysts.
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源科学
·
化学工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
·
2019
·
IF 4.175
Yue Qiang,Jian Cheng,Ying Qi,Haokun Shi,Haichao Liu,Cong Geng,Yahong Xie
In order to meet the demand for fabricating flexible and wearable solar cell products, low-temperature preparation technology of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has become critical. As a highly promising electron transport layer (ETL) material, SnO 2 has many advantages, such as high charge mobility, wide band gap, and could be prepared at relatively low temperatures. However, the application of SnO 2 -based PSCs is limited by the expensive hole transport material (HTM) and electrode material (e.g. spiro-OMeTAD and gold) in the common device structure. In this paper, with SnO 2 as the ETL, cheap carbon as the counter electrode, HTM–free PSCs structured as FTO/SnO 2 /CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 /Carbon was fabricated by the full low-temperature technology. The thickness of the SnO 2 ETL was optimized by adjusting the concentration of the SnO 2 precursor. The highest PCE of 8.32% was obtained and after 32 days in an air environment without packaging, the PCE still remained approximately 92% of its original performance. The factors affecting the stability of the cell were analyzed according to the structure of the PSCs.
研究领域:
材料科学
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能源技术
·
光伏器件
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）