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Synthesis of transition-metal (VIB)-compound catalysts as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

Transition-metal (VIB) carbides (TMCs) and oxides (TMOs) were prepared by a simple acetamide–metal route for use as counter electrodes (CEs) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Acetamide served as the source of carbon and oxygen because it is cost-effective and a good chelating agent, as well as it does not pollute the environment. The carbides and oxides thus prepared were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and nitrogen sorption. These catalysts comprising Cr3C2, Cr2O3, WC, WO2, Mo2C, and MoO2 exhibited satisfactory catalytic activities for the reduction of I3 − to I− in DSSCs, as evidenced by the results obtained from cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel polarization measurements. WC exhibited the best catalytic activity with the maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 4.83% was obtained for the device using WC as the CE, among other materials, while those of 3.24% (Mo2C), 4.44% (Cr3C2), 4.67% (WO2), 2.73% (Cr2O3), and 2.53% (MoO2) were obtained for other DSSCs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21303039, 21473048) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (No. B2016205161, B2015205163). The project is supported by Science Foundation of Hebei Normal University (L2016J02), the Second Batch of Young Talent of Hebei Province, and Support Program for Hundred Excellent Innovation Talents from the Universities of Hebei Province (BR2-220) and 2015 Hebei Province Undergraduate Training Programs for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

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  1. Key Laboratory of Inorganic Nano-materials of Hebei Province, Department of Chemistry and Material Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, People’s Republic of China

    Kezhong Wu, Yaping Wang, Weizhen Cui, Bei Ruan & Mingxing Wu

  2. Department of Chemistry and chemical engineering, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, Hebei, 061001, China

    Weizhen Cui

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  1. Kezhong Wu
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  2. Yaping Wang
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  3. Weizhen Cui
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Correspondence to Weizhen Cui or Mingxing Wu.

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Wu, K., Wang, Y., Cui, W. et al. Synthesis of transition-metal (VIB)-compound catalysts as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Ionics 24, 883–890 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-017-2229-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-017-2229-0

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