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Self-assembly of Ni2P nanowires as high-efficiency electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

We report an easy way to assemble porous one-dimensional (1D) Ni2P nanowires through phosphatization of a Ni(SO4)0.3(OH)1.4 nanobelt precursor. The peculiar synthetic process endows the Ni2P nanowires with large surface area, hierarchical porous structure and the ability to form closely connected network for transporting both electrons and electrolytes, which in conjunction with the high intrinsic electrocatalytic activity make it an excellent low-cost counter electrode material for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Indeed, the first investigation of such novel counter electrode for DSSC presented superb photovoltaic performance rivaling the conventional Pt counter electrode.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the HK-RGC General Research Funds (GRF Nos. HKUST 604809 and 605710) and HKUST (SRFI11EG17-D).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Qiwei Jiang, Yongcai Qiu, Keyou Yan, Junwu Xiao & Shihe Yang

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  1. Qiwei Jiang
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  2. Yongcai Qiu
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  3. Keyou Yan
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  4. Junwu Xiao
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  5. Shihe Yang
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Correspondence to Shihe Yang.

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For supplementary material for this article, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2012.16

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Jiang, Q., Qiu, Y., Yan, K. et al. Self-assembly of Ni2P nanowires as high-efficiency electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells. MRS Communications 2, 97–99 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2012.16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2012.16

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