Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by the synergetic effect of NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+ and g-C3N4

利用NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+和g-C3N4的协同效应提高染料敏化太阳电池的光电转化效率

  • Articles
  • Published:
Science China Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

TiO2-NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+-C3N4 composite photoanodes were successfully designed for the first time. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of TiO2-NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+-C3N4 composite cell can result an efficiency of 7.37%, which is higher than those of pure TiO2 cell and TiO2-C3N4 composite cell. The enhancement of the efficiency can be attributed to the synergetic effect of NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+ and C3N4. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed that the interfacial resistance of the TiO2-dye I -3 /I− electrolyte interface of TiO2-NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+-C3N4 composites cell was much smaller than that of pure TiO2 cell. In addition, the TiO2-NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+-C3N4 composite cell had longer electron recombination time and shorter electron transport time than that of pure TiO2 cell.

摘要

本文首次成功设计并得到以TiO2-NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+-C3N4复合材料作为光阳极的染料敏化太阳电池. 与纯TiO2和TiO2-C3N4电池相比, TiO2-NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+-C3N4复合电池的效率明显提高. 研究表明, TiO2-NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+-C3N4复合电池的TiO2-dye|I -3 /I−界面阻抗小于纯TiO2电 池. 此外TiO2-NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+-C3N4电池具有更长的复合时间和更短的传输时间. 电池效率的提高归结于NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+和g-C3N4的协同效应.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. O’Regan B, Graetzel M. A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature, 1991, 353: 737–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sun Q, Li Y, Dou J, et al. Improving the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by photoanode surface modifications. Sci China Mater, 2016, 59: 867–883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Li LB, Wu WQ, Rao HS, et al. Hierarchical ZnO nanorod-onnanosheet arrays electrodes for efficient CdSe quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. Sci China Mater, 2016, 59: 807–816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ding Y, Xia X, ChenW, et al. Inside-out Ostwald ripening: a facile process towards synthesizing anatase TiO2 microspheres for highefficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. Nano Res, 2016, 9: 1891–1903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kim S, Lee JK, Kang SO, et al. Molecular engineering of organic sensitizers for solar cell applications. J Am Chem Soc, 2006, 128: 16701–16707

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Wang M, Chamberland N, Breau L, et al. An organic redox electrolyte to rival triiodide/iodide in dye-sensitized solar cells. Nat Chem, 2010, 2: 385–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Thapa A, Zai J, Elbohy H, et al. TiO2 coated urchin-like SnO2 microspheres for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. Nano Res, 2014, 7: 1154–1163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Yoo D, Kim J, Kim JH. Direct synthesis of highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS)/graphene composites and their applications in energy harvesting systems. Nano Res, 2014, 7: 717–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Mathew S, Yella A, Gao P, et al. Dye-sensitized solar cells with 13% efficiency achieved through themolecular engineering of porphyrin sensitizers. Nat Chem, 2014, 6: 242–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Yu M, Su J, Wang G, et al. Pt/Y2O3:Eu3+ composite nanotubes: enhanced photoluminescence and application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Nano Res, 2016, 9: 2338–2346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang Y, Zhang B, Peng X, et al. Preparation of dye-sensitized solar cells with high photocurrent and photovoltage by using mesoporous titanium dioxide particles as photoanode material. Nano Res, 2015, 8: 3830–3841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang J, Li S, Yang P, et al. Deposition of transparent TiO2 nanotubes- films via electrophoretic technique for photovoltaic applications. Sci China Mater, 2015, 58: 785–790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Shen T, Tian J, Li B, et al. Ultrathin ALD coating on TiO2 photoanodes with enhanced quantum dot loading and charge collection in quantum dots sensitized solar cells. Sci China Mater, 2016, 59: 833–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang G, Peng Q, Li Y. Lanthanide-doped nanocrystals: synthesis, optical-magnetic properties, and applications. Acc Chem Res, 2011, 44: 322–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Yu W, Xu W, Song H, et al. Temperature-dependent upconversion luminescence and dynamics of NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanocrystals: influence of particle size and crystalline phase. Dalton Trans, 2014, 43: 6139–6147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Zhou J, Liu Q, Feng W, et al. Upconversion luminescent materials: advances and applications. Chem Rev, 2015, 115: 395–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Wang X, Zhuang J, Peng Q, et al. A general strategy for nanocrystal synthesis. Nature, 2005, 437: 121–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hebbink GA, Stouwdam JW, Reinhoudt DN, et al. Lanthanide(III)- doped nanoparticles that emit in the near-infrared. Adv Mater, 2002, 14: 1147–1150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Li Y, Pan K, Wang G, et al. Enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by the incorporation of dual-mode luminescent NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+. Dalton Trans, 2013, 42: 7971–7979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Jiang T, Qin W, Zhou J. Citric acid-assisted phase controlled synthesis of NaYF4:Yb3+, Tm3+ crystals and their intense ultraviolet upconversion emissions. J Fluorine Chem, 2013, 156: 177–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Wang Y, Qu Y, Pan K, et al. Enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells via the incorporation of one dimensional luminescent BaWO4:Eu3+ nanowires. Chem Commun, 2016, 52: 11124–11126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Jiang T, Qin W, Zhou J. Hydrothermal synthesis and aspect ratio dependent upconversion luminescence of NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ microcrystals. J Nanosci Nanotechnol, 2016, 16: 3806–3810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Wang G, Peng Q, Li Y. Luminescence tuning of upconversion nanocrystals. Chem-A Eur J, 2010, 16: 4923–4931

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Casaluci S, Gemmi M, Pellegrini V, et al. Graphene-based large area dye-sensitized solar cell modules. Nanoscale, 2016, 8: 5368–5378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Li Y, Wang G, Pan K, et al. NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+–graphene composites: preparation, upconversion luminescence, and application in dyesensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem, 2012, 22: 20381–20386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Liang Q, Li Z, Bai Y, et al. Reduced-sizedmonolayer carbon nitride nanosheets for highly improved photoresponse for cell imaging and photocatalysis. Sci China Mater, 2017, 60: 109–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Guo K, Li M, Fang X, et al. Improved properties of dye-sensitized solar cells bymultifunctional scattering layer of yolk-shell-like TiO2 microspheres. J Power Sources, 2014, 264: 35–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Lee GY, Lee HR, Um MH, et al. Light scattering amplification on dye sensitized solar cells assembled by hollyhock-shaped CdS-TiO2 composites. Bull Korean Chem Soc, 2012, 33: 3043–3047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Bakhshayesh AM, Mohammadi MR, Dadar H, et al. Improved efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells aided by corn-like TiO2 nanowires as the light scattering layer. Electrochim Acta, 2013, 90: 302–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang W, Liu Y, Qu J, et al. Synthesis of hierarchical TiO2-C3N4 hybrid microspheres with enhanced photocatalytic and photovoltaic activities by maximizing the synergistic effect. ChemPhotoChem, 2017, 1: 35–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Wang P, Dai Q, Zakeeruddin SM, et al. Ambient temperature plastic crystal electrolyte for efficient, all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell. J Am Chem Soc, 2004, 126: 13590–13591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Hagfeldt A, Grätzel M. Molecular photovoltaics. Acc Chem Res, 2000, 33: 269–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21471050 and 21501052), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M570304), the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (LBH-TZ06019), Heilongjiang Province Natural Science Foundation (ZD201301), and the Science Foundation for Excellent Youth of Harbin City of China (2016RQQXJ099).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Materials Chemistry Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China

    Mingqi Yu  (于鸣琦), Yang Qu  (曲阳), Kai Pan  (潘凯) & Guofeng Wang  (王国凤)

  2. Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Yadong Li  (李亚栋)

Authors
  1. Mingqi Yu  (于鸣琦)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yang Qu  (曲阳)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kai Pan  (潘凯)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guofeng Wang  (王国凤)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yadong Li  (李亚栋)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guofeng Wang  (王国凤).

Additional information

Mingqi Yu is currently amaster candidate at Heilongjiang University. She joined Professor Guofeng Wang’s research group in 2015, mainly working on dye-sensitized solar cells.

Guofeng Wang is a professor at the Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Heilongjiang University. Her current research is focused on the synthesis and application of Ln3+-doped nanocrystals.

Electronic supplementary material

40843_2016_9006_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by the synergetic effect of NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+ and g-C3N4

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yu, M., Qu, Y., Pan, K. et al. Enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by the synergetic effect of NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+ and g-C3N4 . Sci. China Mater. 60, 228–238 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-016-9006-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-016-9006-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation