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Solvent volume-driven CuInAlS2 nanoflake counter electrode for effective electrocatalytic tri-iodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

The influence of solvent volume on the properties of CuInAlS2 (CIAS) thin films deposited using simple and cost-effective nebulizer spray technique is studied. The polycrystalline CIAS thin films with tetragonal structure have been observed from the XRD results. SEM images show nanoflake-like structure on the film surface. The elemental presence and its chemical composition were examined by XPS and EDS. The deposited CIAS film for different solvent volume exhibited p-type semiconductor. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel polarization measurements demonstrated that CIAS counter electrodes are capable of tri-iodide reduction process. The performances of photocurrent density-voltage for the CIAS CE exhibited the maximum efficiency of 2.55% with the short-circuit current density of 7.22 mA cm−2.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to record their sincere thanks to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi for providing financial support through Major Research Project Scheme (MRP) [F.no.42-903/2013(SR)]. The authors also acknowledge Dr. R. Ramesh Babu, Assistant Professor, School of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli-24, for extending the Hall measurement facilities established under the DST grant (D.O.No.SR/S2/CMP-35/2004). One of the authors, Dr. S. K. Panda, would like to thank the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, for the financial support (Project no: SB/FT/CS-048/2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PG & Research Department of Physics, Bishop Heber College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620017, India

    C. Ravi Dhas, A. Jennifer Christy & R. Venkatesh

  2. CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi, 630006, India

    Subhendu K. Panda & B. Subramanian

  3. Department of Physics, AVVM Sri Pushpam College, (Autonomous), Poondi, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613503, India

    K. Ravichandran

  4. Photocatalyst and Coatings Group, SPECIFIC, College of Engineering, Swansea University (Bay Campus), Fabianway, Swansea, SA1 8EN, UK

    P. Sudhagar

  5. Department of Physics, Scott Christian College, (Autonomous), Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, 629003, India

    A. Moses Ezhil Raj

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  1. C. Ravi Dhas
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Ravi Dhas, C., Jennifer Christy, A., Venkatesh, R. et al. Solvent volume-driven CuInAlS2 nanoflake counter electrode for effective electrocatalytic tri-iodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Solid State Electrochem 22, 2485–2497 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-018-3941-z

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