Hollow spherical polyaniline (hsPANI) particles are synthesized and deposited on an ITO/glass substrate to prepare a counter electrode (designated as hsPANI-CE) for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The structure and crystallization of the hsPANI particles are characterized by using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectra. A power-conversion efficiency (h) of 6.84% is obtained for the DSSC with the hsPANI-CE, while it is 6.02% in the case of the DSSC with a CE based on pristine PANI (designated as PANI-CE). Such enhancement is attributed to the hsPANI film having a larger active surface area (A) of 0.191 cm 2 , compared to that of the PANI film (A ¼ 0.126 cm 2 ), both values being estimated by a rotating disk electrode (RDE). Cyclic voltammetric (CV) curves have evidenced that the electro-catalytic ability of the hsPANI-CE for the reduction of tri-iodide (I 3 À ) ions is higher than that of the PANI-CE. As a reference, the DSSC with a Pt-sputtered CE gives an h of 7.17%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) spectra are used to substantiate the photovoltaic behaviors. The results suggest that the film consisting of hsPANI particles can be a potential catalytic layer for the replacement of Pt in the CE of a DSSC.
By dropwise addition of a solution of tricarboxamide-cored triphenylamine dendrimer G1 in THF into water (5 Â 10 À6 M), nanoparticles with average diameters of 80 AE 20 nm were formed and collected by centrifugation. The particles show aggregation induced emission and emit green light under photoluminescence conditions. The particles can be fused together by applying a concept of electrochemical curing; the G1 particles are coupled through electrochemical oxidation to form a film.This method provides a fast assembling process for constructing films in a few seconds. Fabrication of electrochromic and fluorescence switching devices was demonstrated.
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