Issue 23, 2013

Electrospun TiC/C nano-felt surface-decorated with Pt nanoparticles as highly efficient and cost-effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Electrospun nano-felt consisting of overlaid TiC/C composite nanofibers was surface-decorated with Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) for use as highly efficient and cost-effective counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In the nanofibers, the self-generated TiC crystallites (∼70 wt%) with sizes of ∼20 nm were randomly embedded in carbon (∼30 wt%). Upon surface-decoration, most Pt NPs were distributed on TiC crystallites, leading to substantial enhancement in the electrocatalytic activity/efficiency of Pt due to the strong interaction between Pt and TiC as well as the resulting synergetic effect on electrocatalysis. Electrochemical measurements indicated that the TiC/C–Pt CE exhibited low charge transfer resistance (Rct), large capacitance (C), and fast reaction rate towards the reduction of I3 ions, and the prototype DSSC exhibited a performance comparable to that with conventional Pt CE in terms of short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and energy conversion efficiency (η).

Graphical abstract: Electrospun TiC/C nano-felt surface-decorated with Pt nanoparticles as highly efficient and cost-effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Aug 2013
Accepted
09 Sep 2013
First published
16 Sep 2013

Nanoscale, 2013,5, 11742-11747

Electrospun TiC/C nano-felt surface-decorated with Pt nanoparticles as highly efficient and cost-effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Y. Zhao, A. Thapa, Q. Feng, M. Xi, Q. Qiao and H. Fong, Nanoscale, 2013, 5, 11742 DOI: 10.1039/C3NR04170K

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