Penternary chalcogenides nanocrystals as catalytic materials for efficient counter electrodes in dye-synthesized solar cells

Özel, Faruk; Sarılmaz, Adem; İstanbullu, Bilal; Aljabour, Abdalaziz; Kuş, Mahmut; Sönmezoğlu, Savaş

doi:10.1038/srep29207

Cited by 57 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have gained tremendous attention in the recent years owing to their low production costs, ease of fabrication, and tunable optical properties . As is known, photovoltaic performance of a DSSC mainly relies on the characteristics of its photoanode component (generally TiO 2 ), which plays a predominant role in converting light into electrical energy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Effective Approach for High‐Efficiency Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells by Using Bifunctional DNA Molecules Modified Photoanode

Sönmezoğlu

Akın

Terzi

et al. 2016

Adv Funct Materials

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wileyonlinelibrary.comadsorption and relatively high recombination rate via vacant sites that significantly restrict the photoconversion efficiency (PCE). Therefore, researchers are faced with the challenge of developing efficient suppression routes by designing this component with an efficient charge transport pathway. Although some approaches were reported to suppress the charge recombinations occurring at the TiO 2 /dye interface including the use of inorganic [3,4] as well as polymer-assisted materials, [5][6][7] there are still some practical limitations due to the poor light absorption, low surface area, and slow electron injection. To overcome these limitations, extensive research efforts are directed toward DSSC applications of functionalized photoanode electrodes with novel interface modifiers and toward the design of solar cells. An appropriate interface modifier can play the role of assisting charge separation and also effectively shield the unfavorable reactions which occur from the injected electrons in photoanode's conduction band (CB) to the I 3 − ions in electrolyte and/or to the holes in highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of the dye. [8] Among modifier layers, thin tunneling barrier (TTB) at TiO 2 /dye interface is one of the most efficient and feasible ways, because TTB material is preferred in such a way that its CB is more positive than that of TiO 2 to form an energy barrier which allows electron injection but hinders the recombination reactions as well as passivate the surface states known as the vacant sites.Since then, many groups have attempted to modify photoanode in this system using alternative materials. [5,9,10] However, it has still not been reached to the desired PCE due to lower electron transport efficiency and sensitizing ability, much faster recombination, and difficult bind with TiO 2 or dyes. Alternative to these molecules, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules have attracted research interest as modifier and/or linker because of cost effectiveness/easy fabrication, absorption ability in UV region causing high intersystem quantum yield, and favorable energy levels (HOMO: −5.2 eV; LUMO: −1.1 eV) [11][12][13] to inject charge, its 3D double helix structure confines the entered photons, and these photons snatch electrons after each collision with DNA molecules. This double helix structure is also beneficial for sunlight utilization from all directions. [14] This paper firstly reports the effect of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules extracted from chickpea and wheat plants on the injection/recombination of photogenerated electrons and sensitizing ability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These high-yield DNA molecules are applied as both linker bridging unit as well as thin tunneling barrier (TTB) at titanium dioxide (TiO 2 )/dye interface, to build up high-efficient DSSCs. With its favorable energy levels, effective linker bridging role, and double helix structure, bifunctional DNA modifier shows an efficient electron injection, suppressed charge recombinati...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Effective Approach for High‐Efficiency Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells by Using Bifunctional DNA Molecules Modified Photoanode

Sönmezoğlu

Akın

Terzi

et al. 2016

Adv Funct Materials

Self Cite

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“…45,55,64,97,100,[112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124] Performance of CZTS could be enhanced after treatment with TiCl 4 , making composite with another alternative electro-catalysts such as graphene, carbon or may be variation in the precursor concentration or film deposition mechanism. In situ fabricated CZTS film was shown periodic deposition upon tuning the concentration of CZTS precursor and ethanol during solvothermal synthesis process and designated as CZTS 1,2,3 4, and 5.…”

Section: Current Trend Of Cu 2 Snzns 4 Based Counter Electrodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Superior catalytic activity, flexible electrochemical performance, good conductivity, high active area, cheaper and greener synthesis and fabrication techniques, effective performance is expected from CE alternative to Pt in DSSC. Recently graphene and other carbon based composites, [37][38][39] 44,45 exhibited performance that is competitive to Pt. The research has led to large increasing number of publications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review on applications of Cu2ZnSnS4 as alternative counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

et al. 2018

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A contribution of counter electrode (CE) emphasis a great impact towards enhancement of a dye-sensitized solar cell's (DSSC) performance and Pt based CE sets a significant benchmark in this field. Owing to cost effective noble metal, less abundance and industrial large scale application purpose, an effective replacement for Pt is highly demanded. There are several approaches to improve the performance of a CE for enhancing the power conversion efficiency with a less costly and facile device. To address this issue, reasonable efforts execute to find out suitable replacement of Pt is becoming a challenge by keeping the same electrochemical properties of Pt in a cheaper and eco-friendlier manner. With this, cheaper element based quaternary chalcogenide, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) becomes a prominent alternative to Pt and used as a successful CE in DSSC also. This review presents brief discussion about the basic properties of CZTS including its synthesis strategy, physicochemical properties and morphology execution and ultimate application as an alternative Pt free CE for a low cost based enhanced DSSC device. It is therefore, imperative for engineering of CZTS material and optimization of the fabrication method for the improvement of DSSC performance.

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“…In 1991, Oregan and Gratzel were developed dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and gain new perspective to commercial photovoltaic devices [2]. DSSCs have become developing technology continuously due to their low cost, environmentally friendly fabrication processes, and acceptable energy conversion efficiencies [3][4][5][6]. Standart DSSC consist of working electrode (WE/photoanode), liquid electrolyte, and counter electrode (CE/photocathode) [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although, Pt provides a high conductivity and a good catalytic activity, because of its rarity and high cost, researches focus on optimization of CE with alternative materials [1,[3][4][5][6]. These alternatives are carbon derivatives, transition metal compounds, and conductive polymers [7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost–effective Polythiophene Counter Electrodes for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

2016

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Abstract. Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are most promising devices among third-generation solar cells because of low cost, easy production, environmental friendliness, and relatively high conversion efficiency. Counter electrode (CE), which is an important component in DSSCs, functions as an electron transfer agent as well as the regenerator of redox couple. Hitherto, various methods and materials were used to prepare different counter electrodes.Among these materials, conducting polymers have been widely investigated and employed in various applications such as sensors, supercapacitors, energy storage devices, DSSCs and others. In this study, Polythiophene (PTh) conducting polymer was successfully synthesized by electrochemical deposition method, and employed as an alternative to expensive platinum (Pt) CE for DSSC. Besides, PTh conducting polymer was electrochemically deposited via cyclic voltammetry method on FTO substrates. The morphology of the PTh film was characterized by SEM and AFM. Finally, the photovoltaic performance of PTh CE based DSSC was compared with PEDOT CE based device. This new concept-along with promising electrocatalytic activity and facile electron transfer-provides a new approach to enhance the photovoltaic performances of Pt-free DSSCs.

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Penternary chalcogenides nanocrystals as catalytic materials for efficient counter electrodes in dye-synthesized solar cells

Cited by 57 publications

References 52 publications

An Effective Approach for High‐Efficiency Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells by Using Bifunctional DNA Molecules Modified Photoanode

An Effective Approach for High‐Efficiency Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells by Using Bifunctional DNA Molecules Modified Photoanode

A review on applications of Cu2ZnSnS4 as alternative counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

Cost–effective Polythiophene Counter Electrodes for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

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