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Polypyrrole-cobalt-carbon nanocomposites as efficient counter electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate a new kind of Pt-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Polypyrrole-cobalt-carbon (PPY-Co-C) nanocomposites, with the advantages of low cost and simple preparation, show favorable catalytic activity in promoting tri-iodide reduction. The DSC composed of the PPY-Co-C nanocomposite electrode exhibits an acceptable energy conversion efficiency of 6.01%, a considerable short-circuit photocurrent of 15.33 mA cm−2, and a low charge-transfer resistance of 1.5 Ω cm2. The overall performance of PPY-Co-C is superior to the carbon counterparts and comparable with the platinum reference, rendering them efficient and promising counter electrode materials for DSCs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry, Ministry of Education; College of Chemistry, Nankai University; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300071, China

    LiJiang Wang, Kai Zhang, FangYi Cheng & Jun Chen

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  1. LiJiang Wang
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  2. Kai Zhang
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  3. FangYi Cheng
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  4. Jun Chen
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Correspondence to FangYi Cheng.

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Wang, L., Zhang, K., Cheng, F. et al. Polypyrrole-cobalt-carbon nanocomposites as efficient counter electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells. Sci. China Chem. 57, 1559–1563 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-014-5121-z

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