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Hollow spherical NiS/NiS2 composite as effective counter electrode catalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

In this study, NiS/NiS2 composite hollow spheres were synthesized by a one-step solvothermal route without the help of template or surfactant. Electrochemical behavior of NiS/NiS2 composite was investigated through the cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel polarization tests. The results exhibit that the NiS/NiS2 composite possess excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of I3 −, superior electrochemical stability and low charge transfer resistance (0.34 Ω cm−2) at the electrode/electrolyte interface. When used as counter electrode (CE) catalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells, hollow spherical NiS/NiS2 composite achieved a satisfactory power conversion efficiency of 7.66 %, which outperformed that of using Pt CE (7.01 %).

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the State Key Program for Basic Research of China (No. 2013CB632705), National Natural Science Foundation of China (11174002), Science Foundation of Anhui Education (No. KJ2013A030).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China

    Xueqin Zuo, Shengnan Yan, Bo Yang, Guang Li, Mingzai Wu, Yongqing Ma, Shaowei Jin & Kerong Zhu

  2. Anhui Key Laboratory of Information Materials and Devices, Hefei, 230601, China

    Guang Li, Mingzai Wu, Yongqing Ma, Shaowei Jin & Kerong Zhu

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  1. Xueqin Zuo
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  2. Shengnan Yan
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  3. Bo Yang
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  4. Guang Li
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  5. Mingzai Wu
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  6. Yongqing Ma
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Correspondence to Guang Li.

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Zuo, X., Yan, S., Yang, B. et al. Hollow spherical NiS/NiS2 composite as effective counter electrode catalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 27, 7974–7978 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-4791-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-4791-z

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