Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Novel nickel nitroprusside (NNP) nanoparticles with incorporated graphene nanoplatelets (NNP/GnP) were used for the first time as a low-cost and effective counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). NNP was synthesized at a low-temperature (25 °C) solution process with suitable pu...
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| author | Md. Mahbubur Rahman |
| author_facet | Md. Mahbubur Rahman |
| author_sort | Md. Mahbubur Rahman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Novel nickel nitroprusside (NNP) nanoparticles with incorporated graphene nanoplatelets (NNP/GnP) were used for the first time as a low-cost and effective counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). NNP was synthesized at a low-temperature (25 °C) solution process with suitable purity and crystallinity with a size range from 5 to 10 nm, as confirmed by different spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. The incorporation of an optimized amount of GnP (0.2 wt%) into the NNP significantly improved the electrocatalytic behavior for the redox reaction of iodide (I<sup>−</sup>)/tri-iodide (I<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) by decreasing the charge-transfer resistance at the CE/electrolyte interface, lower than the NNP- and GnP-CEs, and comparable to the Pt-CE. The NNP/GnP nanohybrid CE when applied in DSSC exhibited a PCE of 6.13% (under one sun illumination conditions) with the <i>J<sub>sc</sub></i>, <i>V<sub>oc</sub></i>, and <i>FF</i> of 14.22 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, 0.628 V, and 68.68%, respectively, while the PCE of the reference Pt-CE-based DSSC was 6.37% (<i>J<sub>sc</sub></i> = 14.47 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, <i>V<sub>oc</sub></i> = 0.635 V, and <i>FF</i> = 69.20%). The low cost of the NNP/GnP hybrid CE with comparable photovoltaic performance to Pt-CE can be potentially exploited as a suitable replacement of Pt-CE in DSSCs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:58:07Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:58:07Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-c29204c93381462991916bf4a3cc04d52023-11-22T21:14:03ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-11-011421656310.3390/ma14216563Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar CellsMd. Mahbubur Rahman0Department of Applied Chemistry, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, KoreaNovel nickel nitroprusside (NNP) nanoparticles with incorporated graphene nanoplatelets (NNP/GnP) were used for the first time as a low-cost and effective counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). NNP was synthesized at a low-temperature (25 °C) solution process with suitable purity and crystallinity with a size range from 5 to 10 nm, as confirmed by different spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. The incorporation of an optimized amount of GnP (0.2 wt%) into the NNP significantly improved the electrocatalytic behavior for the redox reaction of iodide (I<sup>−</sup>)/tri-iodide (I<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) by decreasing the charge-transfer resistance at the CE/electrolyte interface, lower than the NNP- and GnP-CEs, and comparable to the Pt-CE. The NNP/GnP nanohybrid CE when applied in DSSC exhibited a PCE of 6.13% (under one sun illumination conditions) with the <i>J<sub>sc</sub></i>, <i>V<sub>oc</sub></i>, and <i>FF</i> of 14.22 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, 0.628 V, and 68.68%, respectively, while the PCE of the reference Pt-CE-based DSSC was 6.37% (<i>J<sub>sc</sub></i> = 14.47 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, <i>V<sub>oc</sub></i> = 0.635 V, and <i>FF</i> = 69.20%). The low cost of the NNP/GnP hybrid CE with comparable photovoltaic performance to Pt-CE can be potentially exploited as a suitable replacement of Pt-CE in DSSCs.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/21/6563graphenenickel pentacyanonitrosylferratechemical synthesiselectrocatalyticcounter electrodesolar cells |
| spellingShingle | Md. Mahbubur Rahman Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Materials graphene nickel pentacyanonitrosylferrate chemical synthesis electrocatalytic counter electrode solar cells |
| title | Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_full | Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_fullStr | Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_short | Low-Cost and Efficient Nickel Nitroprusside/Graphene Nanohybrid Electrocatalysts as Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_sort | low cost and efficient nickel nitroprusside graphene nanohybrid electrocatalysts as counter electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells |
| topic | graphene nickel pentacyanonitrosylferrate chemical synthesis electrocatalytic counter electrode solar cells |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/21/6563 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mdmahbuburrahman lowcostandefficientnickelnitroprussidegraphenenanohybridelectrocatalystsascounterelectrodesfordyesensitizedsolarcells |