Template-free synthesis of Vanadium Nitride Nanopetals (VNNP) as a high performance counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells

Titanium Nitride Nanoflower Buds as Pt-Free Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…In addition to the metallic conductivity, TMN has very high corrosion resistance toward aqueous and nonaqueous electrolytes, putting forward metal nitrides as potential candidates to replace noble platinum CE for DSSCs. − TMNs such as TiN, − VN, MoN, Ni 3 N, NbN, WN, and W 2 N are tested as CEs for DSSC. Our previous work on DSSC also demonstrated the successful synthesis of different nanostructures of VN and Mo 2 N as efficient CEs for DSSCs. − Among different metal nitrides, titanium nitride is low cost, is electrochemically stable, and shows excellent electrocatalytic activity in triiodide reduction. ,, The reports on TiN electrodes with different nanostructures and composites have demonstrated effective catalytic activity toward the iodide/triiodide electrolyte and photocurrent voltage conversion efficiencies comparable to that of conventional platinum; importantly, TiN is the one among the first used metal compound as an alternate to the Pt CE in DSSCs. ,− Jiang et al have studied the TiN nanotube array prepared by anodization of a Ti foil substrate with subsequent nitridation in a ammonia atmosphere as the CE for DSSCs and reported with the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.73% comparable to FTO/Pt with a PCE of 7.45% . Liang Chen et al have explored porous single-crystalline titanium nitride plates grown on carbon fiber as a CE in fiber-shaped DSSCs and showed excellent electrocatalytic activity and achieved a PCE of 7.20% comparable to that of Pt wire (6.23%) .…”

“…Topochemical processing of metal oxide precursors with a nitrogen source such as N 2 , NH 3 , urea, and nitrogen containing organic substitutes is the general chemical method to prepare TMN. Compared to this preparation, ammonia reduction of metal oxide is a simple and effective method that has the significance of operating under moderate temperatures (300 to 800 °C), retains the morphology of metal oxides, and can produce different morphologies from 0D to 3D. − The successful preparation of TMNs such as VN, MoN, WN, Fe 2 N, and TiN, from ammonialization of their corresponding oxides has been reported as an efficient CE for DSSCs. The overall review on TMN-based CEs encouraged the present work to study pure TiN with a unique morphology as a CE for DSSCs.…”

High-performance Zn-ion batteries constructed byin situconversion of surface-oxidized vanadium nitride into Zn3(OH)2V2O7·2H2O with oxygen defects

“…The absence of Raman peaks of VN may be due to the stronger affinity of oxide than that of vanadium. 24,25…”

“…The absence of Raman peaks of VN may be due to the stronger affinity of oxide than that of vanadium. 24,25 X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis is further used to investigate the valence state and surface chemical compositions. The full XPS spectrum of O-VN is shown in Fig.…”

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

“…Nanomaterials with good electrocatalytic properties can effectively replace Pt counter electrode [10–12] . To date, different nanostructures of carbon and carbon composites, [13,14] transition metal carbides, [15,16] metal oxides, [17,18] metal nitrides, [19,20] metal sulfides, [21] conducting polymers [22] and recently perovskites [23,24] are tested as counter electrodes for DSSC. Especially two‐dimensional materials are receiving more attention as counter electrodes for DSSCs, due to their high surface area and wide porosity distribution, which significantly improves the electrocatalytic active sites, thereby enhancing the electrocatalytic activity and charge transfer kinetics [25–28] .…”