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In situ grown NiIn2S4 nanosheets as counter electrode for bifacial quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

The development of counter electrode (CE) catalytic materials with cost-effective and excellent catalytic activity, transparency, good stability, and simple fabrication process is urgently needed for bifacial quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (BQDSSCs). Herein, NiS1.97 nanoparticles, In2.77S4 and NiIn2S4 nanosheet structures were successfully constructed by a one-step in situ solvothermal method on an FTO glass substrate to act as counter electrodes (CEs). The electrochemical results revealed that the NiIn2S4 interconnected nanosheet CE exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of I3−, which can be attributed to the unique structure with a large contact area for the electrolyte and FTO substrate, enhancing electron transfer and providing effective catalytic sites. The BQDSSCs based on the NiIn2S4 CE showed the superior front and rear illumination Jsc values of 15.27 and 9.13 mA cm−2, and power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 8.00% and 4.59%, respectively, which were higher than those of binary NiS1.97 and In2.77S4, and comparable to the Pt CE with front and rear efficiencies of 7.42% and 3.93%, respectively. Furthermore, the NiIn2S4 CE film displayed a high multiple on–off switching response and good stability, suggesting that ternary sulfides could be promising alternatives for CE materials in BQDSSCs.

Graphic abstract

The NiIn2S4 nanosheet BQDSSC yields front and rear PCEs of 8.00 and 4.59%, higher than those of NiS1.97, In2.77S4, and Pt CEs, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (2008085QB54, 1708085MB43), Natural Science Foundation of Higher Education Institutions in Anhui Province (KJ2019A0513, KJ2018ZD035, KJ2019ZD37), the Horizontal Cooperation Project of Fuyang Municipal Government and Fuyang Normal University (XDHX201701, XDHX201704, and XDHX201716), the Key Science Foundation for Outstanding Young Talent of Fuyang Normal University (rcxm201905), the National Innovation Training Program for College Students (201810371049, S201910371039, 201910371009), the Undergraduate Research Project of Fuyang Normal University (BKSKY18-434 and BKSKY18-437).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, 236037, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Juan Xia, Mian Wei, Lu Chen, Nannan Liu, Suhua Fan & Hai Wu

  2. Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Hormone and Reproduction, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Embryo Development and Reproductive Regulation, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, 236037, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Juan Xia, Qi Wang, Suhua Fan & Hai Wu

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  1. Juan Xia
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  2. Qi Wang
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  3. Mian Wei
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  4. Lu Chen
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  6. Suhua Fan
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  7. Hai Wu
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Correspondence to Suhua Fan or Hai Wu.

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Xia, J., Wang, Q., Wei, M. et al. In situ grown NiIn2S4 nanosheets as counter electrode for bifacial quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Sci 56, 2372–2384 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-05295-x

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