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Economical and highly efficient Pt-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Authors :
Haifeng He
Liansheng Ma
Jingxin Kang
Yong Liu
Source :
Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 566:1-10
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2019.

Abstract

Fe-Co nanoparticle-incorporated carbon nanofibers ((Fe-Co)-CNFs) were obtained by a simple and flexible electrospinning method and were further pre-oxidized and carbonized under a high-temperature nitrogen atmosphere for application as counter electrodes for highly efficient platinum-free dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Electrochemical characterizations revealed that the (Fe-Co)-CNFs showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for the I3āˆ’/Iāˆ’ redox couple. Photoelectric performance tests have shown that dye-sensitized solar cells equipped with (Fe-Co)-CNF counter electrodes have comparable photovoltaic efficiency to platinum counter electrode cells. This is because the graphite properties of these fibers rendered them electronically conducting. One-dimensional nanofibers provide oriented electron transport pathways, while lapped fibers form a three-dimensional mesoporous network, enhancing the contact with the electrolyte, and hence leading to faster ionic reaction kinetics. This study demonstrates that (Fe-Co)-CNFs can be used as low-cost high-efficiency counter electrodes for DSSCs.

Details

ISSN :
09277757
Volume :
566
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........540bda506c146ae2515d11e63bad8783
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2019.01.010