Optimal-temperature-based highly efficient NiS counter electrode for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells

Hee Je Kim, Tae Bin Yeo, Soo Kyoung Kim, S. Srinivasa Rao, A. Dennyson Savariraj, K. Prabakar, Chandu V.V.M. Gopi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Metal sulfide electrodes were compared to a conventional platinum (Pt) counter electrode (CE) in quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs), in which they were used to improve the short circuit current, fill factor, and conversion efficiency (η). We deposited optimal-temperature-based nickel sulfide (NiS) thin films on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate by a facile chemical bath deposition method and successfully employed them as a highly efficient CE for QDSSCs. The obtained NiS thin-film nanoparticles exhibit high electrocatalytic performance and fast mass transfer rates toward the polysulfide electrolyte. Under the illumination of one sun (100 mW cm-2), the QDSSC with a NiS CE produces a higher η of 3.30 %, which is much higher than that of a Pt CE (1.89%). Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel polarization measurements were performed to investigate the electrocatalytic activity of the NiS CE toward polysulfide electrolyte. In quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells, nickel sulfide is a highly efficient catalyst by reducing the redox species that mediate the reduction of the sensitizer after electron injection. The catalytic activity of the NiS counter electrode depends on the deposition temperature. This is supported by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel polarization measurements.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4281-4286
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean Journal of Inorganic Chemistry
Volume2014
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2014

Keywords

  • Counter electrodes
  • Electrocatalytic activity
  • Nickel sulfide
  • Quantum dots
  • Solar cells
  • Thin films

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