Abstract

The counter electrode plays a vital role in solarcell performance. Instead of using platinum (Pt) CE, many inorganic and organic counter electrodes (CEs) have been created for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). However, because of their exceptional chemical stability, low cost, simple fabrication, flexibility, transparence, potential for high efficiency and better electrochemical qualities, carbon nanocomposite and MoS2 have been crucial to CEs. In this work, we created a graphene nanocomposite with TMDs (MoS2, CoS2, and NiS2) integrated as a counter electrode that can be easily manufactured hydrothermally and utilized in DSSCs. Through the use of energy dispersive spectrum analysis, Raman, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, the structural, morphological, and elemental content of the samples were examined. In comparison to MoS2@graphene and CoS2@graphene, respectively, NiS2@graphene hybrid demonstrated superior electrical conductivity and catalytic activity as a substitute for platinum counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). When compared to MoS2@graphene (7.71 ± 0.03%) and CoS2@graphene (8.01 ± 0.05%), the resultant NiS2@graphene counter electrodes (CEs) showed greater power conversion efficiencies (8.42 ± 0.05%). The availability of catalytic edge sites, the three-dimensional (3D) structure of NiS2, which promotes electrolyte/reactant transport, and the exceptional electrical connection to the underneath graphene are responsible for the exceptional performance of DSSCs.  Therefore, our findings show that more research should be done 2D Graphene on the TMDs materials for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Keywords

Graphene, TMDs, Counter Electrode, Dye Sensitized Solar Cells,

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

  1. A.S. Pawbake, M.S. Pawar, S.R. Jadkar, D.J. Late, Large area chemical vapor deposition of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides and their temperature dependent Raman spectroscopy studies, Nanoscale, 8(5), (2016) 3008-3018. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5NR07401K
  2. A. Sinha, B. Tan, Y. Huang, H. Zhao, X. Dang, J. Chen, R. Jain, MoS2 nanostructures for electrochemical sensing of multidisciplinary targets: A review, TrACTrends in Analytical Chemistry, 102, (2018) 75-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2018.01.008
  3. C. Yang, Y. Wang, Z. Wu, Z. Zhang, N. Hu, C. Peng, Three-dimensional MoS2/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets/graphene quantum dots hybrids for high-performance room-temperature NO2 gas sensors, Nanomaterials, 12(6), (2022) 901. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12060901
  4. S. Kumar, D. Singh, D. Pathania, A. Awasthi, K. Singh, Molybdenum disulphide-nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide heterostructure based electrochemical sensing of epinephrine, Materials Chemistry and Physics, 297, (2023) 127446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2023.127446
  5. S. Tajik, Z. Dourandish, F.G. Nejad, H. Beitollahi, P.M. Jahani, A. Di Bartolomeo, Transition metal dichalcogenides: Synthesis and use in the development of electrochemical sensors and biosensors, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 216, (2022) 114674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2022.114674
  6. J. Yang,L. Yang, X. Tang, Y. Zhang, Q. Dong, Z. He, N. Li, K. Huang, H. Luo, X. Xiong, ZIF derived N-CoS2@graphene rhombic dodecahedral nanocomposites: As a high sensitivity sensor for hydrazine, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 351, (2022) 130967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.130967
  7. S.Y.S. Jaberi, A. Ghaffarinejad, Z. Khajehsaeidi, A. Sadeghi, The synthesis, properties, and potential applications of CoS2 as a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 48(42), (2023) 15831-15878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.01.056
  8. B. Bor, B. Gogoi, B.M. Rajbongshi, A. Ramchiary, Nano-structured TiO2/ZnO nanocomposite for dye-sensitized solar cells application: A review, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 81, (2018) 2264-2270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.06.035
  9. T. Ma, J. Bai, C. Li, Facile synthesis of g-C3N4 wrapping on one-dimensional carbon fiber as a composite photocatalyst to degrade organic pollutants, Vacuum, 145, (2017) 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2017.08.027
  10. Y. Dong, L. Xing, F. Hu, A. Umar, X. Wu, Efficient removal of organic dyes molecules by grain-like α-Fe2O3 nanostructures under visible light irradiation, Vacuum, 150, (2018) 35-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2018.01.023
  11. P. Enciso, J.D. Decoppet, T. Moehl, M. Grätzel, M. Wörner, M.F. Cerdá, Influence of the adsorption of phycocyanin on the performance in DSS cells: and electrochemical and QCM evaluation, International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 11(5), (2016) 3604-3614. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1452-3981(23)17423-2
  12. M. Grätzel, Photo electrochemical cells, nature, 414(6861), (2001) 338-344. https://doi.org/10.1038/35104607
  13. Y. Li, H. Wang, H. Zhang, P. Liu, Y. Wang, W. Fang, H. Yang, Y. Li, H. Zhao, A {0001} faceted single crystal NiS nanosheet electrocatalyst for dye-sensitised solar cells: sulfur-vacancy induced electrocatalytic activity, Chemical communications, 50(42), (2014) 5569-5571. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4CC01691B
  14. X. Chen, Y .Hou, B. Zhang, X.H. Yang, H.G. Yang, Low-cost SnS x counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells, Chemical Communications, 49(51), (2013) 5793-5795. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3CC42679C
  15. E. Bi, H. Chen, X. Yang, W. Peng, M. Grätzel, L. Han, A quasi core–shell nitrogen-doped graphene/cobalt sulfide conductive catalyst for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells, Energy & Environmental Science, 7(8), (2014) 2637-2641. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4EE01339E
  16. Y.L. Lee, C.L. Chen, L.W. Chong, C.H. Chen, Y.F. Liu, C.F. Chi, A platinum counter electrode with high electrochemical activity and high transparency for dye-sensitized solar cells, Electrochemistry Communications, 12(11), (2010) 1662-1665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2010.09.022
  17. Y. Li, W. Li, T. Ke, P. Zhang, X. Ren, L. Deng, Microwave-assisted synthesis of sulfur-doped graphene supported PdW nanoparticles as a high performance electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction, Electrochemistry Communications, 69, (2016) 68-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2016.06.006
  18. L. Deng, H. Fang, P. Zhang, A. Abdelkader, X. Ren, Y. Li, N. Xie, Nitrogen and sulfur dual-doped carbon microtubes with enhanced performances for oxygen reduction reaction, Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 163(5), (2016) H343. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.1131605jes
  19. Q.W. Jiang, G.R. Li, X.P. Gao, Highly ordered TiN nanotube arrays as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells, Chemical communications, (44), (2009) 6720-6722. https://doi.org/10.1039/B912776C
  20. J.S. Jang, D.J. Ham, E. Ramasamy, J. Lee, J.S. Lee, Platinum-free tungsten carbides as an efficient counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells, Chemical Communications, 46(45), (2010) 8600-8602. https://doi.org/10.1039/C0CC02247K
  21. H. Sun, D. Qin, S. Huang, X. Guo, D. Li, Y. Luo, Q. Meng, Dye-sensitized solar cells with NiS counter electrodes electrodeposited by a potential reversal technique, Energy & Environmental Science, 4(8), (2011) 2630-2637. https://doi.org/10.1039/C0EE00791A
  22. M. Wu, X. Lin, A. Hagfeldt, T. Ma, A novel catalyst of WO 2 nanorod for the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells. Chemical Communications, 47(15), (2011) 4535-4537. https://doi.org/10.1039/C1CC10638D
  23. F. Gong, H. Wang, X. Xu, G. Zhou, Z.S. Wang, In situ growth of Co0. 85Se and Ni0. 85Se on conductive substrates as high-performance counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 134(26), (2012) 10953-10958. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja303034w
  24. H. Geng, S.F. Kong, Wang, NiS nanorod-assembled nanoflowers grown on graphene: morphology evolution and Li-ion storage applications. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2(36), (2014) 15152-15158. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TA03440F