Performance evaluation of a low-cost, novel vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) as a platinum-free electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells

Gnanasekar, Subashini; Sonar, Prashant; Jain, Sagar M.; Jeong, Soon Kwan; Grace, Andrews Nirmala

doi:10.1039/d0ra06984a

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…J 0 is measured with the tangent of the cathodic or anodic slope with the equilibrium potential. The higher the value of J 0 indicates the better catalytic activity of CE in reducing I 3 − [53–55] . The J 0 value of V 2 O 5 NS (−2.64 mA/cm 2 ) is lower than Pt CE (−3.27 mA/cm 2 ), which indicates the better catalytic activity of V 2 O 5 NS than Pt CE; the results are in accordance with CV and EIS.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

V₂O₅ Nanosheets as an Efficient, Low‐cost Pt‐free Alternate Counter Electrode for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Gnanasekar

Grace

2021

ChemNanoMat

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The search for cost‐effective and efficient counter electrode finds its way in choosing vanadium pentoxide, an abundant and low‐cost material with good electrocatalytic property and stability. Two‐dimensional vanadium pentoxide nanosheets (V2O5 NS) were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method followed by calcination at 350 °C. The morphology of the synthesized material provides an excellent surface property with good surface area and a wide range of porosity distribution helps in enhancing the electrocatalytic active sites for effective reduction of I3−. The electrochemical studies performed with V2O5 NS showed good electrocatalytic activity with high current density, low series and charge transfer resistance. The electrochemical techniques CV, EIS and Tafel polarization performed with V2O5 NS gave an enhanced electrocatalytic activity and charge transfer kinetics with a low value of Rs and Rct. Furthermore, the photocurrent voltage studies done with V2O5 NS CE DSSC achieved a PCE of 5.1% ( Open circuit voltage (Voc)=0.65 V, short ciruit photocurrent density (Jsc)=11.67 mA/cm2 and fill factor (FF)=66.46%) and the conventional thermal decomposed Pt CE DSSC reached the PCE of 7.4% (Open circuit voltage (Voc)=0.78 V, short circuit photocurrent density (Jsc)=15.03 mA/cm2 and fill factor (FF)=57.39%) under similar test conditions, appreciably good performance than previous reports on V2O5 CE DSSC. The present work encourages further extensive research to develop nanostructures of V2O5 as a low‐cost alternate counter electrode to Pt CE for large‐scale production.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

V₂O₅ Nanosheets as an Efficient, Low‐cost Pt‐free Alternate Counter Electrode for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Gnanasekar

Grace

2021

ChemNanoMat

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“…The V oc value of VC/V 2 O 3 (900 °C) should be noted, which as CEs has an enhancement. The highest V oc value of VC/V 2 O 3 (900 °C) CEs may be attributed to their much rougher surface with a maximal S BET than that of other CEs . The FF is the ratio of the maximum power of DSSCs to the product of V oc and J sc .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The highest V oc value of VC/V 2 O 3 (900 °C) CEs may be attributed to their much rougher surface with a maximal S BET than that of other CEs. 45 The FF is the ratio of the maximum power of DSSCs to the product of V oc and J sc . In the J−V curve of DSSCs, the more rectangular the output characteristics representing the level of PCE, the higher the FF.…”

Section: Table 1 Textural Properties Of Five Differentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facile Synthesis of V_xA_1–x(x = 0–1, A= C, O) Multiphase Composites Derived from Polyoxovanadate Precursors by Pyrolysis along a Temperature Gradient as Pt-free Counter Electrodes for High-Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Liu

et al. 2021

J. Phys. Chem. C

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Replacing precious Pt-based counter electrodes (CEs) with a low-cost and high-performance Pt-free catalyst of CEs is still in urgent need to decrease the fabrication cost of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, the elements V and A (A = C, O) of the final state of the target materials are prefabricated in an organic complex precursor by bonding, and then, the precursor was directly processed to prepare V x A1–x (x = 0–1, A = C, O) multiphase CE catalysts by pyrolysis along the temperature gradient under N2 flow, which further served as catalytic materials of CEs for the encapsulation of DSSCs. The precursors were obtained utilizing polyoxovanadate (NH4)2V6O16 as a metal source and glucose as a carbon source via a facile hydrothermal method. Power conversion efficiencies of 5.38, 6.29, 6.60, 6.82, and 6.23% were obtained from the five different V x A1–x (x = 0–1, A = C, O) multiphase CE catalysts as CEs to reduce iodide/triiodide in DSSCs, which were prepared at pyrolysis temperatures of 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 °C, respectively. The enhanced performance of V x A1–x materials can be attributed to the more catalytic active site number and the high conductivity, which is due to the higher specific surface area provided by the pyrolysis and carbonization of glucose and the activation and modification of materials at high temperature and N-doping. The impressive finding in this work indicates that the V x A1–x composite can be considered as a promising candidate for low-cost and high-efficient CEs in the fabrication of DSSCs.

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“…The highest value of V oc for V 2 O 3 @C composite (4:1) CE may be attributed to its much rougher surface with the maximum S BET compared to other CEs. 63 FF is the ratio of the maximum power of DSSCs to the product of V oc and J sc . In the J – V curve of DSSCs, the more rectangular the output characteristics representing the level of PCE, the higher the FF.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composites of Vanadium (III) Oxide (V₂O₃) Incorporating with Amorphous C as Pt-Free Counter Electrodes for Low-Cost and High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

et al. 2021

ACS Omega

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To replace precious Pt-based counter electrodes (CEs) with a low-cost Pt-free catalyst of CEs is still a motivating hotspot to decrease the fabrication cost of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, four different V 2 O 3 @C composite catalysts were synthesized by pyrolysis of a precursor under N 2 flow at 1100 °C and further served as catalytic materials of CEs for the encapsulation of DSSCs. The precursors of V 2 O 3 @C composites have been prepared via a sol–gel method using different proportions of V 2 O 5 with soluble starch in a H 2 O 2 solution. Power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 3.59, 4.79, 5.15, and 5.06% were obtained from different V 2 O 3 @C composites, with soluble starch-to-V 2 O 5 mass ratios (S/V) of 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1, respectively, as CEs to reduce iodide/triiodide in DSSCs. The improvement of electrode performance is due to the combined effects on the increased specific surface area and the enhanced conductivity of V 2 O 3 @C composite catalysts.

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Performance evaluation of a low-cost, novel vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) as a platinum-free electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract: A vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) was synthesised by a simple and effective method of ammonialising a vanadium pentoxide xerogel at a higher temperature. The electrochemical and photo-current studies were performed towards a counter electrode for DSSC.

Cited by 13 publications

References 60 publications

V₂O₅ Nanosheets as an Efficient, Low‐cost Pt‐free Alternate Counter Electrode for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

V₂O₅ Nanosheets as an Efficient, Low‐cost Pt‐free Alternate Counter Electrode for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Facile Synthesis of V_xA_1–x(x = 0–1, A= C, O) Multiphase Composites Derived from Polyoxovanadate Precursors by Pyrolysis along a Temperature Gradient as Pt-free Counter Electrodes for High-Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Composites of Vanadium (III) Oxide (V₂O₃) Incorporating with Amorphous C as Pt-Free Counter Electrodes for Low-Cost and High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

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Performance evaluation of a low-cost, novel vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) as a platinum-free electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract: A vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) was synthesised by a simple and effective method of ammonialising a vanadium pentoxide xerogel at a higher temperature. The electrochemical and photo-current studies were performed towards a counter electrode for DSSC.

Cited by 13 publications

References 60 publications

V2O5 Nanosheets as an Efficient, Low‐cost Pt‐free Alternate Counter Electrode for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

V2O5 Nanosheets as an Efficient, Low‐cost Pt‐free Alternate Counter Electrode for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Facile Synthesis of VxA1–x(x = 0–1, A= C, O) Multiphase Composites Derived from Polyoxovanadate Precursors by Pyrolysis along a Temperature Gradient as Pt-free Counter Electrodes for High-Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Composites of Vanadium (III) Oxide (V2O3) Incorporating with Amorphous C as Pt-Free Counter Electrodes for Low-Cost and High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

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V₂O₅ Nanosheets as an Efficient, Low‐cost Pt‐free Alternate Counter Electrode for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

V₂O₅ Nanosheets as an Efficient, Low‐cost Pt‐free Alternate Counter Electrode for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Facile Synthesis of V_xA_1–x(x = 0–1, A= C, O) Multiphase Composites Derived from Polyoxovanadate Precursors by Pyrolysis along a Temperature Gradient as Pt-free Counter Electrodes for High-Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Composites of Vanadium (III) Oxide (V₂O₃) Incorporating with Amorphous C as Pt-Free Counter Electrodes for Low-Cost and High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells