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CoS nanosheets-coupled graphene quantum dots architectures as a binder-free counter electrode for high-performance DSSCs

硫化钴纳米片耦合石墨烯量子点构筑优异的染料敏化太阳能电池无粘结剂对电极

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Abstract

Hybrid materials with alternate components and synergetic effects are promising and intriguing materials as electrodes for high-performance energy storage/conversion devices. Cobalt sulphide (CoS) is one of the low-cost but inactive catalysts as counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). How to optimize its structure and further enhance its electrochemical activity for I −3 reduction remains a major challenge. Herein, a simple and efficient approach has been adopted to configure CoS sheets-coupled graphene quantum dots (GQDs) architectures via electrodepositing GQDs and CoS on the fl uorine doped tin oxide glass substrate. When employed as the binder-free CE for DSSCs, the as-made CoS-GQDs exhibits a high catalytic activity towards the reduction of I −3 , evidenced by the results of cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel polarization measurements. A conversion efficiency of 7.30% is achieved, being superior to CoS CE (5.55%) and Pt CE (6.94%) due to their synergetic effects. The present work provides a simple method for configuring low-cost binder-free CE materials for replacing Pt.

摘要

染料敏化太阳能电池(DSSCs)因其造价低、稳定性高、工艺简单,备受关注. 廉价对电极材料的设计与构筑是亟需解决的关键科学问题之一. 本文采用电沉积技术, 在FTO玻璃基底上制备了硫化钴纳米片-石墨烯量子点复合结构纳米材料, 研究了其直接作为DSSCs电极材料的催化性能和光电转换效率. 结果发现, 该材料对I −3 的还原表现出较高的催化性能, 光电转换效率达7.30%, 优于单一的硫化钴(5.55%)和商业化的贵金属铂催化剂(6.94%). 本研究为廉价、可取代铂的无粘结剂电极材料的开发提供了一个有效的途径.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Lab of Fine Chemicals, Liaoning Key Lab for Energy Materials and Chemical Engineering, PSU-DUT Joint Center for Energy Research, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China

    Chang Yu  (于畅), Zhiqiang Liu  (刘志强), Yiwen Chen  (陈毅文), Xiangtong Meng  (孟祥桐), Mingyu Li  (李明宇) & Jieshan Qiu  (邱介山)

Authors
  1. Chang Yu  (于畅)
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  2. Zhiqiang Liu  (刘志强)
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  3. Yiwen Chen  (陈毅文)
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  4. Xiangtong Meng  (孟祥桐)
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  5. Mingyu Li  (李明宇)
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  6. Jieshan Qiu  (邱介山)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jieshan Qiu  (邱介山).

Additional information

Chang Yu received her PhD degree from the School of Chemical Engineering at Dalian University of Technology (DUT) in 2008. She is currently a professor at DUT. Her research interests mainly focus on carbon coupled two-dimensional inorganic layered materials for energy storage and conversion applications.

Jieshan Qiu received his PhD degree from the School of Chemical Engineering at DUT in China. He was appointed to a Cheung-Kong Distinguished Professor in 2009. He is a professor of the School of Chemical Engineering and director of the Carbon Research Laboratory at DUT. His current research includes functional carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon nanohybrids, and their applications (energy conversion and storage, capacitive deionization technique, etc.).

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Yu, C., Liu, Z., Chen, Y. et al. CoS nanosheets-coupled graphene quantum dots architectures as a binder-free counter electrode for high-performance DSSCs. Sci. China Mater. 59, 104–111 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-016-0121-2

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