A versatile chemical conversion synthesis of Cu2S nanotubes and the photovoltaic activities for dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract

A versatile, low-temperature, and low-cost chemical conversion synthesis has been developed to prepare copper sulfide (Cu2S) nanotubes. The successful chemical conversion from ZnS nanotubes to Cu2S ones profits by the large difference in solubility between ZnS and Cu2S. The morphology, structure, and composition of the yielded products have been examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction measurements. We have further successfully employed the obtained Cu2S nanotubes as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. The light-to-electricity conversion results show that the Cu2S nanostructures exhibit high photovoltaic conversion efficiency due to the increased surface area and the good electrocatalytical activity of Cu2S. The present chemical route provides a simple way to synthesize Cu2S nanotubes with a high surface area for nanodevice applications.

One-Step Solvothermal Synthesis of Petalous Carbon-Coated Cu+-Doped CdS Nanocomposites with Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

“…The Raman peaks at 295 and 588 cm –1 correspond to first order (1-LO) and second order (2-LO) modes of CdS, respectively. The slight blue shift observed in Figure S4b is attributed to the change in the crystalline size. , The characteristic peak attributed to Cu 2 S at around 472 cm –1 is not detected, , further indicating the successful Cu + doping.…”

“…The slight blue shift observed in Figure S4b is attributed to the change in the crystalline size. 25,39 The characteristic peak attributed to Cu 2 S at around 472 cm −1 is not detected, 40,41 further indicating the successful Cu + doping. The photocatalytic activities for hydrogen production of the as-prepared C-Cu-CdS PNs with different concentrations of Cu + doping were evaluated by using 0.25 M Na 2 SO 3 and 0.35 M Na 2 S as hole scavengers in 100 mL of distilled water irradiated with visible light (λ > 420 nm).…”

Compound Copper Chalcogenide Nanocrystals

“…Chang et al also demonstrated that Cu-rich CIS provided excellent performance as CEs for the iodide electrolyte in DSSCs . Shuai et al produced Cu 2 S nanotubes, by cation exchange of ZnS nanotubes, and demonstrated their relatively good performance as CE in DSSCs with the iodine electrolyte, reaching PCEs up to 2.88% . Chen et al.…”

Nanostructured copper sulfides: synthesis, properties and applications

“…16 As an extended solar cell application, Cu 2 S has also been employed in the fabrication of quantum dot sensitized (QDSSC) or dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). [138][139][140][141] It is a well-known fact that noble metals such as Pt, Au are widely accepted as counter electrodes in the TiO 2 -based QDSSCs and DSSCs. However, the chemisorption of electrolyte on metal catalysts causes high overpotential leading to low fill factor.…”