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WN/nitrogen-doped reduced graphite oxide hybrids for triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

The development of low-cost, environmental friendliness, outstanding catalytic activity, superior conductivity and good stability counter electrode (CE) catalyst in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is important to promote the commercial application of DSSCs. Here, WN/nitrogen-doped reduced graphite oxide hybrids (WN/NrGO) had been synthesized by hydrothermal method followed by nitridation treatment, which used as CE catalysts for catalyzing I−3 to I−. The combined WN and nitrogen-doped reduced graphite oxide (NrGO) into WN/NrGO could effectively regulate the catalytic activity for the reduction of I−3, accelerate the charge transfer at the interface, and then the synergistic effect between of them can be fully achieved. When the WN/NrGO served as the CE catalyst in DSSCs, the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.42% has been obtained, compared to the conventional Pt-based DSSCs (7.71%). Meanwhile, as-prepared WN/NrGO exhibited higher PCE than that of the solo WN (6.19%) and NrGO (5.81%) in parallel. A series of electrochemical measures revealed that the WN/NrGO displayed the higher catalytic activity and charge transfer ability than that of the solo WN and NrGO, so the synthesized low-cost WN/NrGO have an potential to be used as the effectively CE catalysts for the replacement of the noble Pt.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the Fundamental Research Founds for the Central Universities of China (3072019CF2507). We also thank Siyu Sui of Heilongjiang University for the experimental measurement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Physics and Optoelectronics Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, No. 145 Nantong Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, China

    Qi Sun & Lihong Qi

  2. College of Chemistry and Chemistry Engineering, Qiqihar University, No. 42 Wenhua Street, Jianhua District, Qiqihar, 161006, China

    Xiuwen Wang

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  1. Xiuwen Wang
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  2. Qi Sun
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Correspondence to Lihong Qi.

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Wang, X., Sun, Q. & Qi, L. WN/nitrogen-doped reduced graphite oxide hybrids for triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells. Res Chem Intermed 46, 1705–1714 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-019-04057-y

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