Chlorine-Doped Perovskite Oxide: A Platinum-Free Cathode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Triiodide/iodide (I3 –/I–) redox couple-mediated solar cells, batteries, and electrochromic devices require highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts for I3 – reduction reaction (IRR) to overcome performance limitations, whereas the widely used platinum (Pt) cathode for IRR has limitations of high price and unfavorable durability. In this work, we present a halogen element (chlorine) doping strategy to design low-cost perovskite-type electrocatalysts with enhanced IRR activity and stability. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) assembled by the LaFeO2.965−δCl0.035 cathode delivers an attractive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.4% with a remarkable PCE enhancement factor of 23% compared with Pt, which is higher than most of the reported non-Pt DSSC cathodes. Attractively, LaFeO2.965−δCl0.035 displays superior IRR activity/stability and structural stability in the I3 –/I–-based electrolyte compared to pristine LaFeO3 because chlorine doping facilitates the creation of oxygen vacancies (active sites) and enhances surface acidity simultaneously. This study provides a new way for designing outstanding IRR electrocatalysts, which could be applied to many redox couple-mediated photo/electrochemical devices.

Recent Advances in Cs2AgBiBr6-Based Halide Double Perovskites as Lead-Free and Inorganic Light Absorbers for Perovskite Solar Cells

“…The utilization of solar energy has been investigated widely in recent years due to the advantages of renewability and cleanability. , Photocatalysis and photovoltaics are two main routes for the utilization of solar energy. Water splitting to produce H 2 , pollutant degradation, and CO 2 reduction are main important applications of photocatalysis. − Moreover, photovoltaic devices such as dye-sensitized solar cells, quantum dot sensitized solar cells, organic polymer solar cells, and perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which can convert sunlight energy into electricity directly, have attracted increasing attention. − In particular, PSCs have been widely investigated due to their unique advantages of low cost and high efficiency. Hybrid organic–inorganic PSCs have achieved remarkable development since the first report in 2009 .…”

Metal Chalcogenides (MxEy; E = S, Se, and Te) as Counter Electrodes for Dye–Sensitized Solar Cells: An Overview and Guidelines

“…This work inspired many other researchers to explore perovskite oxide/carbon composites as potential CEs for DSSCs. [204,[206][207][208][209] However, very few works report the use of perovskite oxide/metal chalcogenide composites as CEs for DSSCs despite their great performance. [204] Oh et al [207] reported a double perovskite oxide/metal selenide-graphene composite (graphene-La 2 CuNiO 6 -ZnSe "G-LCN-ZS") as CEs for DSSCs.…”

“…[204,[206][207][208][209] However, very few works report the use of perovskite oxide/metal chalcogenide composites as CEs for DSSCs despite their great performance. [204] Oh et al [207] reported a double perovskite oxide/metal selenide-graphene composite (graphene-La 2 CuNiO 6 -ZnSe "G-LCN-ZS") as CEs for DSSCs. They demonstrated that G-LCN-ZS nanocomposites possess a larger specific surface area, higher electrocatalytic activity, and lower charge transfer resistance at the electrolyte-electrode interface and faster reaction kinetics toward the I À /I 3 À redox reaction.…”

Perovskite Oxides in Catalytic Combustion of Volatile Organic Compounds: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

“…Perovskite oxides (ABO 3 ) are an important class of complex metal oxides, which have been extensively applied in many energy and environmental‐related fields such as electrocatalysts in water electrolyzers, [ 63–70 ] electrolyte and electrode materials in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), [ 71–85 ] electrochemical sensors, [ 86–90 ] photocathode in dye‐sensitized solar cells, [ 91–97 ] catalysts in advanced oxidation process for wastewater remediation, [ 98–104 ] three‐way catalysts in automobile exhaust treatment, [ 105–107 ] and catalysts for oxidative removal of VOCs. [ 108–110 ] Perovskite oxides are superior to simple oxides for above applications because of their several outstanding features, such as rich defects, tunable metal‐oxygen bond length and strength, high redox capability of the B‐site cations, and excellent compositional/structural flexibility.…”