Influence of thickness and morphology of MoS₂on the performance of counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Non-platinum electrodes for photoelectric devices are challenging and attractive to the scientific community. A thin film of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was prepared on substrates coated with fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) to substitute the platinum counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, we synthesized layered and honeycomb-like MoS2 thin films via the cyclic voltammetry (CV) route. Thickness and morphology of the MoS2 thin films were controlled via the concentration of precursor solution. The obtained results showed that MoS2 thin films formed at a low precursor concentration had a layered morphology while a honeycomb-like MoS2 thin film was formed at a high precursor concentration. Both types of MoS2 thin film were composed of 1T and 2H structures and exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for the I3–/I− redox couple. DSSCs assembled using these MoS2 CEs showed a maximal power conversion efficiency of 7.33%. The short-circuit value reached 16.3 mA·cm−2, which was higher than that of a conventional Pt/FTO CE (15.3 mA·cm−2). This work reports for the first time the possibility to obtain a honeycomb-like MoS2 thin film morphology by the CV method and investigates the effect of film structure on the electrocatalytic activity and photovoltaic performance of CEs for DSSC application.

Synthesis of Single Crystal 2D Cu2FeSnS4 Nanosheets with High-Energy Facets (111) as a Pt-Free Counter Electrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…However, these catalysts come with a drawback of high costs and stability issues, making them less desirable for the large-scale production of photovoltaic devices [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. In light of these challenges, researchers have turned their attention toward 2D chalcogenides as promising alternatives due to their unique properties and environmental friendliness [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Particularly, with special exposed high-energy facets, 2D chalcogenide can promote charge migration across both the electrolyte and the photoelectrode interface and increase photon–matter interaction via multiple reflection and scattering at the electrolyte inter-face, which will provide much higher catalytic activity [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Nanomaterials for photocatalysis and applications in environmental remediation and renewable energy

“…The as-prepared nanomaterials with various morphologies demonstrated many preeminent features in the above applications. In detail, the MoS2 with a honeycomb-like structure was first synthesized by an electrochemical route and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells [ 19 ], which expressed a higher applicability than that of other studies [ 20 – 22 ]. Besides, Nhu et al [ 23 ] used rosin as a green chemical approach to fabricate ZnO nanoparticles, exhibiting a high photocatalytic activity for both methylene blue (100%) and methyl orange (82.78%) decomposition after 210 min under UV radiation.…”