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Journal of Materials Science
Published in: Journal of Materials Science 24/2020

20-04-2020 | Energy materials

One-pot fabrication of mesoporous g-C3N4/NiS co-catalyst counter electrodes for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells

Authors: Wenhua Li, Qianqiao Chen, Qin Zhong

Published in: Journal of Materials Science | Issue 24/2020

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Abstract

The nickel sulfide (NiS) nanoparticles were anchored on the mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) by one-pot calcination with sulfur powder as sulfur source and pore-forming agent. It is the first attempt to use the g-C3N4/NiS as a counter electrode (CE) for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells. The g-C3N4/NiS co-catalyst based on 0.74 wt% NiS loading for Sn2− reduction obtained a low interface charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 1.08 Ω. The power conversion efficiency of the QDSSC assembled with ZnSe/CdS/CdSe/ZnSe-sensitized TiO2 photoanode and g-C3N4/NiS CE is up to 5.64%, which is 3.05 times as high as that of pure g-C3N4 CE. The enhancement of cell efficiency is attributed to the synergistic effects of excellent morphology of g-C3N4 and its co-catalysis with NiS nanoparticles. The mesoporous architecture contributes a large specific surface area and fast electrolyte transfer channels, and the coupling of g-C3N4 with NiS promotes the transfer of charge between the interface g-C3N4/NiS and electrolytes. The presented strategy for fabricating mesoporous architecture with g-C3N4/NiS uses low-cost raw materials and a simple preparation method, which provides a feasible route to enhance the electrocatalytic activity of g-C3N4.
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Appendix
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Metadata
Title
One-pot fabrication of mesoporous g-C3N4/NiS co-catalyst counter electrodes for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells
Authors
Wenhua Li
Qianqiao Chen
Qin Zhong
Publication date
20-04-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Materials Science / Issue 24/2020
Print ISSN: 0022-2461
Electronic ISSN: 1573-4803
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04672-w

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