Construction of Highly Catalytic Porous TiOPC Nanocomposite Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Developing low-cost, durable, and highly catalytic counter electrode (CE) materials based on earth-abundant elements is essential for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this study, we report a highly active nanostructured compositional material, TiOPC, which contains titanium, oxygen, phosphorus, and carbon, for efficient CE in I/I electrolyte. The TiOPC nanocomposites are prepared from carbon thermal transformation of TiPO in an atmosphere of nitrogen at high temperature, and their catalytic performance is regulated by changing the carbon content in the nanocomposites. The TiOPC with appropriate 24.6 wt % carbon and porous structure exhibits an enhanced electrocatalytic activity in the reduction of I, providing a short-circuit current density of 16.64 mA cm, an open-circuit potential of 0.78 V, and an energy conversion efficiency of 8.65%. The photovoltaic performance of TiOPC CE-based DSSC is even superior to that of a Pt CE-based cell (13.80 mA cm, 0.79 V, and 6.66%). The enhanced catalytic activity of TiOPC is attributed to the presence of predominant Ti-O-P-C structure along with the continuous conductive carbon network and the porous structure.

Molecular-Level Synthesis of Cobalt Phosphide Nanocrystals Confined in Highly Nitrogen-Doped Mesoporous Carbon Electrocatalyst for Highly Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…In the high-resolution P 2p spectrum of CoP/NMC hybrid, P–O could be observed at 132.3 eV, demonstrating that a minor residual phosphate existed in the carbon matrix . In addition, the high-resolution XPS P 2p and Co 2p core levels of CoP/NMC (Figure d) showed the characteristic peaks of P 2p 3/2 (129.5 eV) and Co 2p 3/2 (778.6 eV), very consistent with the binding energies of Co and P in CoP .…”

“…61 In the high-resolution P 2p spectrum of CoP/NMC hybrid, P−O could be observed at 132.3 eV, demonstrating that a minor residual phosphate existed in the carbon matrix. 62 In addition, the high-resolution XPS P 2p and Co 2p core levels of CoP/NMC (Figure 3d) showed the characteristic peaks of P 2p 3/2 (129.5 eV) and Co 2p 3/2 (778.6 eV), very consistent with the binding energies of Co and P in CoP. 63 The positively shifted binding energy from the metallic Co (778.1−778.2 eV) and negatively shifted binding energy from the elemental P (130.2 eV) suggest that the Co atom with 3d metallic state electrons has a partial positive charge and the P atom has a partial negative charge.…”

Carbon nanotubes: functionalisation and their application in chemical sensors

“…28,29 Due to their superior and unique electronic properties, inert properties of carbonaceous materials are widely used as counter electrodes (CE). [30][31][32][33][34] Their advantage and limitations on the structural and electronic properties of the listed carbonaceous materials are summarised in Table 1.…”

Газовые И Био-Сенсоры Из Оксидов Металлов, Легированных Углеродными Нанотрубками

“…Имеются указания на ряд потенциальных применений УНТ, включая поглощение микроволн [6,7], защиту от коррозии [8,9], армирование материалов в композитах из натуральных волокон [10,11], экранирование электромагнитных помех [12,13], использование в батареях [14,15], в качестве сенсибилизированных красителей и для создания перовскитных солнечных элементов [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], химических датчиков [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34], накопителей водорода [35,36], автоэмиссионных материалах [37,39], для создания логических схем [39], световых устройств [40] и других применений в микроэлектронике [41,42], вычислительной технике [43] и лекарственной терапии [44,45]. УНТ -идеальные материалы для нового класса молекулярных сенсоров.…”