NiSe2 as an efficient electrocatalyst for a Pt-free counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Nickel diselenide (NiSe(2)) has been synthesized and applied as a counter electrode (CE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for the first time, which displays remarkable catalytic activity in the reduction of I(3)(-). The DSSC with a NiSe(2) CE produces a higher power conversion efficiency (8.69%) than that (8.04%) of the cell with a Pt CE under the same conditions. A new method for comparing the catalytic activity has also been proposed.