Issue 8, 2019

ZnO-nitrogen doped carbon derived from a zeolitic imidazolate framework as an efficient counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

By direct carbonization of ZIF-8 nanopowder under an inert atmosphere, ZnO-nitrogen doped carbon (ZnO-NC) materials have been prepared and added at different content values to polystyrenesulfonate-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT:PSS) and employed as an efficient catalyst in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The electrochemical analysis confirms that the prepared counter electrodes display catalytic activity higher than those of PEDOT:PSS and Pt CEs for I3/I and [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ redox mediators. The photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the assembled DSSC with the 7% ZnO-NC/PEDOT:PSS catalyst and an I3/I based electrolyte is 8.05%. By increasing the thickness of the prepared counter electrode, the electrocatalytic activity is greatly enhanced and the total performance reaches 9.16%, which is 21.16% greater than that of the Pt-based cell (7.56%). Furthermore, ZnO-NC/PEDOT:PSS CEs are also confirmed to exhibit outstanding catalytic activity toward the [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ redox couple. The resultant conversion efficiency of the assembled DSSC with a 7% ZnO-NC/PEDOT:PSS CE is 8.12%, which is greater than that of the Pt-based cell (7.49%).

Graphical abstract: ZnO-nitrogen doped carbon derived from a zeolitic imidazolate framework as an efficient counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 ربيع الأول 1440
Accepted
10 جمادى الثانية 1440
First published
13 جمادى الثانية 1440

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2019,3, 1976-1987

ZnO-nitrogen doped carbon derived from a zeolitic imidazolate framework as an efficient counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

A. S. A. Ahmed, W. Xiang, I. S. Amiinu, Z. Li, R. Yu and X. Zhao, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2019, 3, 1976 DOI: 10.1039/C8SE00594J

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