Graphene supported nickel nanoparticle as a viable replacement for platinum in dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

A platinum free counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells was developed using graphene platelets (GP) supported nickel nanoparticles (NPs) as the active catalyst. Few layered GP were prepared by chemical oxidation of graphite powders followed by thermal exfoliation and reduction. The nanoparticles of nickel were deposited directly onto the platelets by pulsed laser ablation. The composite electrodes of GP and Ni nanoparticles (GP-Ni) thus obtained showed better performance compared to conventional Pt thin film electrodes (Std Pt) and unsupported Ni NPs. The efficiencies of the cells fabricated using GP-Ni, Std Pt and Ni NP CEs were 2.19%, 2% and 1.62%, respectively. The GP-Ni composite solar cell operated with an open circuit voltage of 0.7 V and a fill factor of 0.6. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using the I(3)(-)/I(-) redox couple confirms lower values of charge transfer resistance for the composite electrodes, 4.67 Ω cm(2) as opposed to 7.73 Ω cm(2) of Std Pt. The better catalytic capability of these composite materials is also reflected in the stronger I(3)(-) reduction peaks in cyclic voltammetry scans.

Surface Modification of Carbon Fibres for Interface Improvement in Textile Composites

“…5 indicated that it consists of two prominent peaks at around 1330 and~1600 cmˉ1 along with a wide band extending from about 2600-3200 cmˉ1. The peaks at~1330 and~1600 cmˉ1 are the D and G bands respectively [17,18]. The G band is a characteristic of all graphitic structures.…”

Synthesis and microwave absorption properties of graphene/nickel composite materials

“…5a, the minimum RL values of pure graphene and Ni nanoparticles with a thickness of 2 mm are -6.11 dB at 6.1 GHz and -8.99 dB at 7.1 GHz, respectively. RGO-Ni (Ni@13.7 wt%) has a minimum RL value of -11.5 dB at 14.6 GHz, increasing 88.2 % compared with RGO and 27.9 % compared with pure Ni particles, and the -10 dB absorption region (B-10 dB) ranges from 14 In order to determine effects of composite thickness on the RL minimum value and its corresponding frequency, RGO-Ni (Ni@63.2 wt%) with a thickness of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm was evaluated, and the results are shown in Fig. 5b.…”

“…Instead of their excellent MA performances, those graphene/Ni particles were synthesized at relatively high temperature (245°C) and the reaction chamber needed argon protection environment. Although many methods have been explored to prepare graphene-based composites [13][14][15][16][17][18][19], their preparation processes were complicated and many parameters need to be carefully controlled. Therefore, in this study, we developed a one-step in situ reduction method for the formation of Ni nanoparticles on graphene surface and simultaneously reducing graphene oxide into graphene at low temperature (80°C).…”

A composite catalytic film of Ni-NPs/PEDOT: PSS for the counter electrodes in dye–sensitized solar cells

“…A nickel incorporated carbon nanotube/nanofiber composite CE rendered for its DSSC a solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency (Á) of 8.32%, which was much better than that of the DSSC (7.96%) with a platinum counter electrode (Pt-CE) [23]. Graphene supported nickel nanoparticles (GP-Ni) was used as the catalytic film for the CE of a DSSC; the cell showed a higher Á (2.19%) compared to that of the cell with Pt (2.00%), and this was attributed to a better electrocatalytic ability of the film with GP-Ni [24]. Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) enhance the performance of a CE in a DSSC, owing to their excellent electro-catalytic ability, superior conductivity [25] and long-term stability [26,27].…”