N-doped graphene nanoplatelets as superior metal-free counter electrodes for organic dye-sensitized solar cells

Myung Jong Ju; Jae Cheon Kim; Hyun Jung Choi; In Taek Choi; Sang Gyun Kim; Kimin Lim; Jaejung Ko; Jae Joon Lee; In Yup Jeon; Jong Beom Baek; Hwan Kyu Kim

doi:10.1021/nn4009774

N-doped graphene nanoplatelets as superior metal-free counter electrodes for organic dye-sensitized solar cells

Myung Jong Ju, Jae Cheon Kim, Hyun Jung Choi, In Taek Choi, Sang Gyun Kim, Kimin Lim, Jaejung Ko, Jae Joon Lee, In Yup Jeon, Jong Beom Baek, Hwan Kyu Kim

Department of Energy and Materials Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

236 Scopus citations

Abstract

Highly efficient counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were developed using thin films of scalable and high-quality, nitrogen-doped graphene nanoplatelets (NGnP), which was synthesized by a simple two-step reaction sequence. The resultant NGnP was deposited on fluorine-doped SnO₂ (FTO)/glass substrates by using electrospray (e-spray) coating, and their electrocatalytic activities were systematically evaluated for Co(bpy)₃^3+/2+ redox couple in DSSCs with an organic sensitizer. The e-sprayed NGnP thin films exhibited outstanding performances as CEs for DSSCs. The optimized NGnP electrode showed better electrochemical stability under prolonged cycling potential, and its R_ct at the interface of the CE/electrolyte decreased down to 1.73 Ω cm², a value much lower than that of the Pt electrode (3.15 Ω cm²). The DSSC with the optimized NGnP-CE had a higher fill factor (FF, 74.2%) and a cell efficiency (9.05%), whereas those of the DSSC using Pt-CE were only 70.6% and 8.43%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the extraordinarily better current-voltage characteristics of the DSSC-NGnP outperforming the DSSC-Pt for the Co(bpy)₃^3+/2+ redox couple (in paticular, FF and short circuit current, J_sc) is highlighted for the first time.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	5243-5250
Number of pages	8
Journal	ACS Nano
Volume	7
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/nn4009774
State	Published - 25 Jun 2013

Keywords

charge-transfer resistance
Co(bpy) redox couple
electrocatalytic activity
N-doped graphene nanoplatelets
organic dye-sensitized solar cells

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10.1021/nn4009774

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@article{c0ec2ec2b6e542d4bba9333790365568,

title = "N-doped graphene nanoplatelets as superior metal-free counter electrodes for organic dye-sensitized solar cells",

abstract = "Highly efficient counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were developed using thin films of scalable and high-quality, nitrogen-doped graphene nanoplatelets (NGnP), which was synthesized by a simple two-step reaction sequence. The resultant NGnP was deposited on fluorine-doped SnO2 (FTO)/glass substrates by using electrospray (e-spray) coating, and their electrocatalytic activities were systematically evaluated for Co(bpy)33+/2+ redox couple in DSSCs with an organic sensitizer. The e-sprayed NGnP thin films exhibited outstanding performances as CEs for DSSCs. The optimized NGnP electrode showed better electrochemical stability under prolonged cycling potential, and its Rct at the interface of the CE/electrolyte decreased down to 1.73 Ω cm2, a value much lower than that of the Pt electrode (3.15 Ω cm2). The DSSC with the optimized NGnP-CE had a higher fill factor (FF, 74.2%) and a cell efficiency (9.05%), whereas those of the DSSC using Pt-CE were only 70.6% and 8.43%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the extraordinarily better current-voltage characteristics of the DSSC-NGnP outperforming the DSSC-Pt for the Co(bpy)33+/2+ redox couple (in paticular, FF and short circuit current, Jsc) is highlighted for the first time.",

keywords = "charge-transfer resistance, Co(bpy) redox couple, electrocatalytic activity, N-doped graphene nanoplatelets, organic dye-sensitized solar cells",

author = "Ju, {Myung Jong} and Kim, {Jae Cheon} and Choi, {Hyun Jung} and Choi, {In Taek} and Kim, {Sang Gyun} and Kimin Lim and Jaejung Ko and Lee, {Jae Joon} and Jeon, {In Yup} and Baek, {Jong Beom} and Kim, {Hwan Kyu}",

year = "2013",

month = jun,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1021/nn4009774",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

pages = "5243--5250",

journal = "ACS Nano",

issn = "1936-0851",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "6",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - N-doped graphene nanoplatelets as superior metal-free counter electrodes for organic dye-sensitized solar cells

AU - Ju, Myung Jong

AU - Kim, Jae Cheon

AU - Choi, Hyun Jung

AU - Choi, In Taek

AU - Kim, Sang Gyun

AU - Lim, Kimin

AU - Ko, Jaejung

AU - Lee, Jae Joon

AU - Jeon, In Yup

AU - Baek, Jong Beom

AU - Kim, Hwan Kyu

PY - 2013/6/25

Y1 - 2013/6/25

N2 - Highly efficient counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were developed using thin films of scalable and high-quality, nitrogen-doped graphene nanoplatelets (NGnP), which was synthesized by a simple two-step reaction sequence. The resultant NGnP was deposited on fluorine-doped SnO2 (FTO)/glass substrates by using electrospray (e-spray) coating, and their electrocatalytic activities were systematically evaluated for Co(bpy)33+/2+ redox couple in DSSCs with an organic sensitizer. The e-sprayed NGnP thin films exhibited outstanding performances as CEs for DSSCs. The optimized NGnP electrode showed better electrochemical stability under prolonged cycling potential, and its Rct at the interface of the CE/electrolyte decreased down to 1.73 Ω cm2, a value much lower than that of the Pt electrode (3.15 Ω cm2). The DSSC with the optimized NGnP-CE had a higher fill factor (FF, 74.2%) and a cell efficiency (9.05%), whereas those of the DSSC using Pt-CE were only 70.6% and 8.43%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the extraordinarily better current-voltage characteristics of the DSSC-NGnP outperforming the DSSC-Pt for the Co(bpy)33+/2+ redox couple (in paticular, FF and short circuit current, Jsc) is highlighted for the first time.

AB - Highly efficient counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were developed using thin films of scalable and high-quality, nitrogen-doped graphene nanoplatelets (NGnP), which was synthesized by a simple two-step reaction sequence. The resultant NGnP was deposited on fluorine-doped SnO2 (FTO)/glass substrates by using electrospray (e-spray) coating, and their electrocatalytic activities were systematically evaluated for Co(bpy)33+/2+ redox couple in DSSCs with an organic sensitizer. The e-sprayed NGnP thin films exhibited outstanding performances as CEs for DSSCs. The optimized NGnP electrode showed better electrochemical stability under prolonged cycling potential, and its Rct at the interface of the CE/electrolyte decreased down to 1.73 Ω cm2, a value much lower than that of the Pt electrode (3.15 Ω cm2). The DSSC with the optimized NGnP-CE had a higher fill factor (FF, 74.2%) and a cell efficiency (9.05%), whereas those of the DSSC using Pt-CE were only 70.6% and 8.43%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the extraordinarily better current-voltage characteristics of the DSSC-NGnP outperforming the DSSC-Pt for the Co(bpy)33+/2+ redox couple (in paticular, FF and short circuit current, Jsc) is highlighted for the first time.

KW - charge-transfer resistance

KW - Co(bpy) redox couple

KW - electrocatalytic activity

KW - N-doped graphene nanoplatelets

KW - organic dye-sensitized solar cells

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U2 - 10.1021/nn4009774

DO - 10.1021/nn4009774

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84879671069

SN - 1936-0851

VL - 7

SP - 5243

EP - 5250

JO - ACS Nano

JF - ACS Nano

IS - 6

ER -

N-doped graphene nanoplatelets as superior metal-free counter electrodes for organic dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Keywords

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