In this study, a core−shell structured multiwall carbon nanotube@reduced graphene oxide nanoribbon (MWCNT@rGNR) was prepared by the facile unzipping of MWCNTs with mild conditions to synthesize the composites of the MWCNT@rGNR and polypyrrole (PPy) or MoSe 2 , which were used as the electrocatalysts for the counter electrodes (CEs) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The transmission electron microscopy image of the MWCNT@rGNR showed a graphene sheet structure found on both sides of the MWCNTs, indicating a central core of the MWCNTs and its shell of the rGNR. The obtained MWCNT@rGNR functionalized with PPy or MoSe 2 was envisaged to have the advantages of both component, that are the unique electronic structure of the MWCNT@rGNR and the synergistic effects of conductive PPy or electrocatalytically active MoSe 2 , respectively. The DSSCs with PPy/MWCNT@rGNR 0.3 and MoSe 2 /MWCNT@rGNR 0.3 showed comparable efficiency (photoelectric conversion efficiency, PCE = 7.48 and 8.34%, respectively), short-circuit current (I sc = 17.97 and 17.11 mA cm −2 , respectively), and open-circuit voltage (V oc = 0.80 and 0.84 V, respectively) without any loss of the fill factor (FF = 0.52 and 0.58, respectively) as compared to the cell fabricated using a standard Pt electrode. The PCE of a standard Pt CE was 7.70% with an I sc of 16.09 mA cm −2 , V oc of 0.76 V, and FF of 0.63. According to the results of the electrochemical measurements, composites with PPy or MoSe 2 showed better electrocatalytic activity, higher redoxactive surface area, and extremely large heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant. The plastic devices assembled with the PPy/ MWCNT@rGNR 0.3 and MoSe 2 /MWCNT@rGNR 0.3 coated on a flexible plastic substrate (indium tin oxide-coated polyethylene naphthalate; ITO/PEN)exhibited impressive PCEs of 4.61 and 5.25%, respectively, comparable to those coated on the rigid fluorinedoped tin oxide glass substrate. This work presented a facile low-temperature method to fabricate high-performance MWCNT@ rGNR composite-based CEs to make them applicable to large-scale plastic DSSCs.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.