Highly Pt-like electrocatalytic activity of transition metal nitrides for dye-sensitized solar cells

Li, Guo‐Ran; Song, Jian; Pan, G. L.; Gao, Xueping

doi:10.1039/c1ee01105g

Cited by 398 publications

(232 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Unfortunately, the disadvantages such as the high cost and low abundance greatly restrict the large-scale application of Pt in DSCs [6][7][8][9] . Thus, several Pt-free alternative materials have been explored as CEs in DSCs, such as carbon materials 8,10 , conductive organic polymers 6,11 and inorganic semiconductor materials including metal sulfides 12,13 , metal nitrides 14,15 , metal carbides 16,17 , metal oxides 18 and copper zinc tin sulfide 19 and so on. Recently, Wu et al 20 synthesized three classes (carbides, nitrides and oxides) of nanoscaled earlytransition metal catalysts and applied them in DSC systems as CE catalysts to replace the expensive Pt.…”

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confidence: 99%

Rational screening low-cost counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

et al. 2013

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Dye-sensitized solar cells have attracted intense research attention owing to their ease of fabrication, cost-effectiveness and high efficiency in converting solar energy. Noble platinum is generally used as catalytic counter electrode for redox mediators in electrolyte solution. Unfortunately, platinum is expensive and non-sustainable for long-term applications. Therefore, researchers are facing with the challenge of developing low-cost and earthabundant alternatives. So far, rational screening of non-platinum counter electrodes has been hamstrung by the lack of understanding about the electrocatalytic process of redox mediators on various counter electrodes. Here, using first-principle quantum chemical calculations, we studied the electrocatalytic process of redox mediators and predicted electrocatalytic activity of potential semiconductor counter electrodes. On the basis of theoretical predictions, we successfully used rust (a-Fe 2 O 3 ) as a new counter electrode catalyst, which demonstrates promising electrocatalytic activity towards triiodide reduction at a rate comparable to platinum.

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confidence: 99%

Rational screening low-cost counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

et al. 2013

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“…The yellow powder (precursors) obtained from the oil bath reaction agreed well with reported orthorhombic tungsten oxide hydrate (WO 3¨H2 O, JCPDS No. 84-0886), as shown in Figure 1a (Pattern A) [29]. The WO 3¨H2 O precursors were converted into WN and WN/WO 3 composites by nitridation in NH 3 atmosphere and oxidation in air, under heat treatment at 700˝C and 200˝C for 3 h, respectively.…”

Section: Structure Composition and Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesoporous WN/WO3-Composite Nanosheets for the Chemiresistive Detection of NO2 at Room Temperature

Guarecuco

et al. 2016

Inorganics

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Abstract:Composite materials, which can optimally use the advantages of different materials, have been studied extensively. Herein, hybrid tungsten nitride and oxide (WN/WO 3 ) composites were prepared through a simple aqueous solution route followed by nitriding in NH 3 , for application as novel sensing materials. We found that the introduction of WN can improve the electrical properties of the composites, thus improving the gas sensing properties of the composites when compared with bare WO 3 . The highest sensing response was up to 21.3 for 100 ppb NO 2 with a fast response time of 50 s at room temperature, and the low detection limit was 1.28 ppb, which is far below the level that is immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) values (NO 2 : 20 ppm) defined by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In addition, the composites successfully lower the optimum temperature of WO 3 from 300˝C to room temperature, and the composites-based sensor presents good long-term stability for NO 2 of 100 ppb. Furthermore, a possible sensing mechanism is proposed.

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“…Carbonaceous materials [6], conducting polymers [7], inorganic compounds (like sulfides [8], carbides [9], and nitrides [10]), and composite materials [11][12][13] have been reported as Pt-free materials in DSCs. The metal oxides were also studied as CEs for their facile synthesis and low cost, but the efficiencies were relatively low and not able to replace Pt [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

NH3-treated WO3 as low-cost and efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Song¹,

Chen²,

Cui³

et al. 2016

Nano Online

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A novel low-cost and efficient counter electrode (CE) was obtained by treating catalytic inert tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ) nanomaterial in NH 3 atmosphere at elevated temperatures. The formation of tungsten oxynitride from WO 3 after NH 3 treatment, as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, increases the catalytic activity of the CE. Correspondingly, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the DSC is significantly increased from 0.9% for pristine WO 3 CE to 5.9% for NH 3 -treated WO 3 CE. The photovoltaic performance of DSC using NH 3 -treated WO 3 CE is comparable to that of DSC using standard Pt CE (with a PCE of 6.0%). In addition, it is also shown that NH 3 treatment is more efficient than H 2 or N 2 treatment in enhancing the catalytic performance of WO 3 CE. This work highlights the potential of NH 3 -treated WO 3 for the application in DSCs and provides a facile method to get highly efficient and low-cost CEs from catalytic inert metal oxides.

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Highly Pt-like electrocatalytic activity of transition metal nitrides for dye-sensitized solar cells

Cited by 398 publications

References 23 publications

Rational screening low-cost counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Rational screening low-cost counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Mesoporous WN/WO3-Composite Nanosheets for the Chemiresistive Detection of NO2 at Room Temperature

NH3-treated WO3 as low-cost and efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

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