TY - JOUR
T1 - Ternary metal selenide/PEDOT composite as a durable catalyst for I-/I3- regeneration in dye-sensitized solar cells
AU - Chen, Cheng
AU - Asiam, Francis Kwaku
AU - Kaliamurthy, Ashok Kumar
AU - Rahman, Md Mahbubur
AU - Mensah, Appiagyei Ewusi
AU - Ryu, Junyeong
AU - Kang, Hyeong Cheol
AU - Song, Nan
AU - Sadiq, Muhammad
AU - Yoo, Kicheon
AU - Lee, Jae Joon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
PY - 2026/2/10
Y1 - 2026/2/10
N2 - Corrosion resistant, strongly adhering, and efficient catalysts are important for long-term operation of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT, has desirable electrical and corrosion resistant properties in catalysis, but poor adhesion onto most conductive substrates. Platinum also presents cost and sustainability problems, despite its good performance. To realize a synergistic combination of all properties of an effective catalyst, we have developed a composite comprised of a highly redox active and strongly adhering ternary metal selenide (FeNiCoSe) whose long-term operational stability in iodide/triiodide (I-/I3-) regeneration is ensured by a protective layer of PEDOT. This composite exists as an inter-twinned material, enabled by the two-step electrodeposition approach employed at room temperature. It combines the mechanical durability of FeNiCoSe with the chemical stability of PEDOT. Electrochemical tests in I-/I3- solution revealed negligible degradation (ΔEpp = 1 mV; ΔJred = -0.036 mA cm-2) of the composite as a counter electrode material after 100 cyclic voltammetry scans. DSSCs with this composite exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 8.81 %, exceeding reference devices based on pure PEDOT (8.29 %), FeNiCoSe (8.44 %), and Pt (8.22 %). Long-term testing confirmed durability as the device retained 84.41 % of its initial efficiency after 3 months, versus 78.24 % for Pt, and 77.24 % for PEDOT, while FeNiCoSe degraded completely. These results demonstrate the advantages of composites with tailored needs in catalytic applications.
AB - Corrosion resistant, strongly adhering, and efficient catalysts are important for long-term operation of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT, has desirable electrical and corrosion resistant properties in catalysis, but poor adhesion onto most conductive substrates. Platinum also presents cost and sustainability problems, despite its good performance. To realize a synergistic combination of all properties of an effective catalyst, we have developed a composite comprised of a highly redox active and strongly adhering ternary metal selenide (FeNiCoSe) whose long-term operational stability in iodide/triiodide (I-/I3-) regeneration is ensured by a protective layer of PEDOT. This composite exists as an inter-twinned material, enabled by the two-step electrodeposition approach employed at room temperature. It combines the mechanical durability of FeNiCoSe with the chemical stability of PEDOT. Electrochemical tests in I-/I3- solution revealed negligible degradation (ΔEpp = 1 mV; ΔJred = -0.036 mA cm-2) of the composite as a counter electrode material after 100 cyclic voltammetry scans. DSSCs with this composite exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 8.81 %, exceeding reference devices based on pure PEDOT (8.29 %), FeNiCoSe (8.44 %), and Pt (8.22 %). Long-term testing confirmed durability as the device retained 84.41 % of its initial efficiency after 3 months, versus 78.24 % for Pt, and 77.24 % for PEDOT, while FeNiCoSe degraded completely. These results demonstrate the advantages of composites with tailored needs in catalytic applications.
KW - Adhesion
KW - And dye-sensitized solar cells
KW - Catalysis
KW - Composite
KW - Electrodeposition
KW - Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105025937324
U2 - 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.148046
DO - 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.148046
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105025937324
SN - 0013-4686
VL - 549
JO - Electrochimica Acta
JF - Electrochimica Acta
M1 - 148046
ER -