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Electrolyte for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells assessed with cyclic voltammetry

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Abstract

An intuitive method was designed to measure the performance of various electrolytes for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements were used to evaluate the electrolyte performance using a standard three-electrode system composed of a working electrode, counter electrode, and reference electrode. CV measurements were carried out over the potential range of −0.7 to −0.1 V at a scan rate of 50 mV s−1 in five different polysulfide electrolytes. A higher reduction peak current in the CV curve indicated a faster rate of the redox reaction (S 2− n to S2−) in the electrolyte. The QDSSCs were assembled into a sandwich structure consisting of a CdS/CdSe co-sensitized photoanode, a PbSe counter electrode, and a polysulfide electrolyte. Photocurrent density vs. voltage curves were measured for the assembled cells. The resulting energy conversion efficiency measurements were consistent with the CV results. An energy conversion efficiency of 5.14% was obtained for QDSSCs using an electrolyte containing 0.05 M 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide.

摘要

本文阐述了一种直观判断量子点敏化太阳能电池电解液性能的方法. 采用由工作电极、 对电极和参比电极组成的标准三电极系统, 扫描速度为50 mV s−1, 在−0.7∼−0.1 V的电压范围内对五种不同的多硫电解液进行循环伏安法测定. CV曲线中还原峰电流越高, 表明氧化还原反应速率越快(S 2− n to S2−). 本文所采用的量子点敏化太阳能电池由CdS/CdSe共敏化的光阳极、 PbSe对电极以及多硫电解液为主要结构组成, 测量了光电流密度和电压的曲线. 能量转换效率所显示的结果与CV结果一致. 添加0.05 M的1,2-二甲基-3-丙基咪唑碘盐后的量子点敏化太阳能电池转换效率为5.14%.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Municipal and Environment Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China

    Fumin Ren & Sujun Li

  2. School of Materials Science & Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710620, China

    Chenglei He

Authors
  1. Fumin Ren
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  2. Sujun Li
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  3. Chenglei He
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Correspondence to Fumin Ren.

Additional information

Fumin Ren is an associate professor of the Department of Municipal and Environment Engineering, Beiiing Jiaotong University (BJTU). He got his PhD degree from BJTU in 2002, MSc degree in material science from the School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China in 1991, and BSc degree from the Department of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University in 1987. His research focuses on the environmental materials, the electrolyte of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells, atmospheric environment, and the theory of transportation environment.

Sujun Li is currently a postgraduate student at BJTU. She is majoring in environmental engineering. She got her BSc degree from the Department of Civil Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology in 2012. Her research focuses on the electrolyte of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells, and the treatment of heavy metal in sewage sludge.

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Ren, F., Li, S. & He, C. Electrolyte for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells assessed with cyclic voltammetry. Sci. China Mater. 58, 490–495 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-015-0054-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-015-0054-1

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