Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anchoring CoS on three-dimensional porous rGO thin films as efficient counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rational design of advanced cost-effective counter electrode (CE) is vital for the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, we report a novel CoS/reduced graphene oxide (CoS/rGO) composite counter electrode via a facile and rapid microwave irradiation plus ion exchange method. CoS nanoparticles are strongly anchored on three-dimensional (3D) porous rGO thin films. Due to positive advantages including high catalytic properties, enhanced active area, and electrical conductivity, the DSSC based on CoS/rGO counter electrode is endowed with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.86%, superior to that based on sputtered Pt counter electrode (6.50%). Our results indicate that CoS/rGO composite thin film is a low-cost and highly efficient CE for DSSCs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. B. O’Regan, M. Grätzel, Nature 353, 737–740 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. A. Hagfeldt, G. Boschloo, L. Sun, L. Kloo, H. Pettersson, Chem. Rev. 110, 6595–6663 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. L.J. Su, Y.M. Xiao, G.Y. Han, J. Mater. Sci. 52, 13541–13551 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. B. Hu, Q. Tang, B. He, L. Lin, H. Chen, J. Power Sources 267, 445–451 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. S.Y. Lin, J.J. Wu, Electrochim. Acta 152, 61–67 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Yella, H.W. Lee, H.N. Tsao, C. Yi, A.K. Chandiran, M.K. Nazeeruddin, E.W.G. Diau, C.Y. Yeh, S.M. Zakeeruddin, M. Grätzel, Science 334, 629–634 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. G.D. Carlo, A.O. Biroli, F. Tessore, S. Caramori, M. Pizzotti, Coord. Chem. Rev. 358, 153–177 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. L. Zhang, J. Liu, H. Xiao, D. Liu, Y. Qin, H. Wu, H. Li, N. Du, W. Hou, Chem. Eng. J. 250, 1–5 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. M.R. A.-bahrani, L. Liu, W. Ahmad, J. Tao, F. Tu, Z. Cheng, Y. Gao, Appl. Surf. Sci. 331, 333–338 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Pan, Z. Yang, H. Li, L. Qiu, H. Sun, H. Peng, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135, 10622–10625 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. W. Wang, F. Du, Q. Yang, K. Zhang, J. Yao, G. Li, H. Zhou, Mater. Lett. 207, 117–120 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. S.A. Ansari, H. Yadav, N. Adeel, K. Yoo, J.J. Lee, J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Electron. 30, 6929–6935 (2019)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. T. Zhang, S. Yun, X. Li, X. Huang, Y. Hou, Y. Liu, J. Li, X. Zhou, W. Fang, J. Power Sources 340, 325–336 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. F. Gong, H. Wang, X. Xu, G. Zhou, Z.S. Wang, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134, 10953–10958 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. G. Yue, L. Wang, X. Zhang, J. Wu, Q. Jiang, W. Zhang, M. Huang, J. Lin, Energy 67, 460–467 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. W. Wei, K. Sun, Y.H. Hu, J. Mater. Chem. A 4, 12398–12401 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. M.K. Wang, A.M. Anghel, B. Marsan, N.-L.C. Ha, N. Pootrakulchote, S.M. Zakeeruddin, M. Grätzel, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131, 15976–15977 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. J. Huo, J. Wu, M. Zheng, Y. Tu, Z. Lan, Electrochim. Acta 187, 210–217 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. C. Yu, Z. Liu, Y. Chen, X. Meng, M. Li, J. Qiu, Sci. China Mater. 59, 104–111 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. D. Chen, H. Zhang, Y. Liu, J. Li, Energy Environ. Sci. 6, 1362–1387 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. D.W. Chang, H.J. Choi, A. Filer, J.B. Baek, J. Mater. Chem. A 2, 12136–12149 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. X.H. Miao, K. Pan, G.F. Wang, Y.P. Liao, L. Wang, W. Zhou, B.J. Jiang, Q.J. Pan, G.H. Tian, Chem. Eur. J. 20, 474–482 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. L.J. Sun, Y. Bai, N.Q. Zhang, K.N. Sun, Chem. Commun. 51, 1846–1849 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. J. Huo, J. Wu, M. Zheng, Y. Tu, Z. Lan, J. Power Sources 293, 570–576 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Z. Pang, A. Wei, Y. Zhao, J. Liu, L. Tao, Y. Xiao, Y. Yang, D. Luo, J. Mater. Sci. 53, 2748–2757 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. M.J. McAllister, J.L. Li, D.H. Adamson, H.C. Schniepp, A.A. Abdala, J. Liu, M.H. Alonso, D.L. Milius, R. Car, R.K. Prud’homme, I.A. Aksay, Chem. Mater. 19, 4396–4404 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. G. Eda, G. Fanchini, M. Chhowalla, Nat. Nanotechnol. 3, 270–274 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the financial supports from the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province of China (No. 2016A010104020), the Training Plan of Outstanding Young Teachers of Universities in Guangdong Province (Grant No. YQ2015055), Pearl River S&T Nova Program of Guangzhou (Grant No. 201610010116), and The Open Project of Guangdong Province Key Lab of Display Material and Technology (Grant No. 2017B030314031).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China

    Jun Liu, Weifeng Yang, Aixiang Wei, Weiwei Zhang, Kangle Liu, Zhen Liu, Zhiming Xiao & Yu Zhao

  2. School of Information Science, Xinhua College of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510520, Guangdong, China

    Aixiang Wei

  3. College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, 545006, Guangxi, China

    Huajiang Zuo

Authors
  1. Jun Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Weifeng Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aixiang Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Huajiang Zuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Weiwei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kangle Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Zhen Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Zhiming Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Yu Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aixiang Wei.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, J., Yang, W., Wei, A. et al. Anchoring CoS on three-dimensional porous rGO thin films as efficient counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 31, 22546–22553 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-04765-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-04765-x

Search

Navigation