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Fabrication of a free-standing Ti 3 C 2 T x -PTh counter electrode via interfacial polymerization for dye-sensitized solar cells.
- Source :
-
RSC advances [RSC Adv] 2024 Jul 31; Vol. 14 (33), pp. 24000-24009. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 31 (Print Publication: 2024). - Publication Year :
- 2024
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Abstract
- The current work involves the fabrication of a MXene-Polythiophene (Ti <subscript>3</subscript> C <subscript>2</subscript> T <subscript> x </subscript> -PTh) composite via interfacial polymerization, alongside its deployment as a counter electrode (CE) or photocathode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The structural properties of the synthesized materials were investigated through a comprehensive array of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance, assessed via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), revealed that the Ti <subscript>3</subscript> C <subscript>2</subscript> T <subscript> x </subscript> -PTh CE exhibits superior electro-catalytic activity, and reduction in charge transfer resistance compared to other individual CEs. These observations are in concordance with the data obtained from Tafel analysis. The incorporation of Ti <subscript>3</subscript> C <subscript>2</subscript> T <subscript> x </subscript> sheets into the composite significantly augmented its catalytic efficacy for triiodide reduction, manifesting in elevated short-circuit photocurrent density and enhanced fill factor metrics. A DSSC utilizing the Ti <subscript>3</subscript> C <subscript>2</subscript> T <subscript> x </subscript> -PTh CE exhibited a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.83%, which stands on par with that of traditional Pt CEs. Thus, the Ti <subscript>3</subscript> C <subscript>2</subscript> T <subscript> x </subscript> -PTh CE material is posited as a viable, cost-efficient alternative to Pt, heralding a new era in the engineering of counter electrodes for the next generation of DSSCs.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing conflict of interest.<br /> (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2046-2069
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 33
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- RSC advances
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39086522
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ra02651a