Issue 33, 2015

Robust, metallic Pd17Se15 and Pd7Se4 phases from a single source precursor and their use as counter electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Thin films of conducting palladium selenide phases (Pd17Se15 and Pd7Se4) are prepared using a single source molecular precursor by thermolysis. Varying the mole ratios of palladium and selenium precursors results in palladium organo-selenolate complexes which on thermolysis at different temperatures yield Pd17Se15 and Pd7Se4 phases that are very stable and adherent to the substrate. The organo-selenolate complexes are characterized using small angle XRD, 77Se NMR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The palladium selenide films are characterized by various techniques such as XRD, XPS, TEM and SEM. Electrical conductivities of the films are determined using the four probe method. The strong adherence of the films to glass substrates coupled with high corrosion resistant behavior towards strong acid and alkaline environments render them to be very effective as electrocatalysts. The catalytic activity towards the I3āˆ’/Iāˆ’ redox couple, which is an important reaction in the regeneration of the dye in a dye-sensitized solar cell, is studied. Between the two phases, the Pd17Se15 film shows superior activity as the counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells with a photocurrent conversion efficiency of 7.45%.

Graphical abstract: Robust, metallic Pd17Se15 and Pd7Se4 phases from a single source precursor and their use as counter electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Jul 2015
Accepted
15 Jul 2015
First published
15 Jul 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 17144-17153

Author version available

Robust, metallic Pd17Se15 and Pd7Se4 phases from a single source precursor and their use as counter electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells

S. Kukunuri, S. N. Karthick and S. Sampath, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 17144 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA04956C

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