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NiO as an Efficient Counter Electrode Catalyst for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

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Abstract

NiO is an important heterogeneous catalyst employed in chemical processes. However, it is a new topic to explore NiO as a counter electrode catalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this paper, NiO with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) was demonstrated an efficient DSSC counter electrode with a maximum power conversion efficiency of 7.58 %. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed that the excellent photovoltaic performance is due to the combination between the high catalytic activity of NiO and the superior electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS. The optimum weight ratio of NiO to PEDOT:PSS is 48.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF-CBET-0931587) and the ACS Petroleum Research Fund (PRF-51799-ND10). Hu also thanks Charles and Carroll McArthur for their great support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI, 49931-1295, USA

    Hui Wang, Wei Wei & Yun Hang Hu

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  1. Hui Wang
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  2. Wei Wei
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  3. Yun Hang Hu
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Correspondence to Yun Hang Hu.

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Wang, H., Wei, W. & Hu, Y.H. NiO as an Efficient Counter Electrode Catalyst for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. Top Catal 57, 607–611 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-013-0218-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-013-0218-8

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