Facile synthesis of nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide as an efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
Source abstract
Abstract
A nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-RGO) nanosheet was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electrode microscopy. After being deposited as counter electrode film for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), it is found that the synthesized N-RGO nanosheet has smaller charge-transfer resistance and better electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of triiodide than the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheet. Consequently, the DSSCs based on the N-RGO counter electrode achieve an energy conversion efficiency of 4.26%, which is higher than that of the RGO counter electrode (2.85%) prepared under the same conditions, and comparable to the value (5.21%) obtained with the Pt counter electrode as a reference. This N-RGO counter electrode offers the advantages of not only saving the cost of Pt itself but also simplifying the process of counter electrode preparation. Therefore, an inexpensive N-RGO nanosheet is a promising counter electrode material to replace noble metal Pt.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells · Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (63)
Show source-provided references
1. Ahmad K, Mohammad A, Mobin SM (2017) Hydrothermally grown α-MnO2 nanorods as highly efficient low cost counter-electrode material for dye-sensitized solar cells and electrochemical sensing applications. Electrochim Acta 252:549–55710.1016/j.electacta.2017.09.010 ↗
2. Bajpai R, Roy S, Kulshrestha N, Rafiee J, Koratkar N, Misra DS (2012) Graphene supported nickel nanoparticle as a viable replacement for platinum in dye sensitized solar cells. Nano 4:926–930
3. Cai X, Lv Z, Wu H, Zou HSD (2012) Direct application of commercial fountain pen ink to efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem 22:9639–964410.1039/c2jm16265b ↗
4. Chen M, Shao LL (2016) Review on the recent progress of carbon counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Eng J 304:629–64510.1016/j.cej.2016.07.001 ↗
5. Chen PY, Li CT, Lee CP, Vittal R, Ho KC (2015) PEDOT-decorated nitrogen-doped graphene as the transparent composite film for the counter electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell. Nano Energy 12:374–38510.1016/j.nanoen.2015.01.010 ↗
6. Chiang T, Chou C, Wu D, Hsiung C (2011) Applications of p-type NiO in dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv Mater Res 239:1747–175010.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.239-242.1747 ↗
7. Dhas CR, Christy AJ, Venkatesh R, Anuratha KS, Panda SK (2017) Nebulizer spray-deposited CuInGaS2 thin films, a viable candidate for counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. Sol Energy 157:58–7010.1016/j.solener.2017.08.013 ↗
8. Dikin DA, Stankovich S, Zimney EJ, Piner RD, Dommett GHB, Evmenenko G, Nguyen ST, Ruoff RS (2007) Preparation and characterization of graphene oxide paper. Nature 448:457–46010.1038/nature06016 ↗
9. Dong J, Wu J, Jia J, Fan L, Wei Y (2016) Cobalt selenite dihydrate as an effective and stable Pt-free counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. Power Sources 336:83–9010.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.10.056 ↗
10. Duan XL, Gao ZY, Chang JL, Wu DP, Ma PF, He JJ, Xu F, Gao SY, Jiang K (2013) CoS2–graphene composite as efficient catalytic counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell. Electrochim Acta 114:173–17910.1016/j.electacta.2013.10.045 ↗
11. Gao Z, Wang L, Chang J, Liu X, Wu D, Xu F, Guo Y, Jiang K (2016) Nitrogen doped porous graphene as counter electrode for efficient dye sensitized solar cell. Electrochim Acta 188:441–44910.1016/j.electacta.2015.12.008 ↗
12. Gao C, Wang H, Hu Z, Wu M (2017) A novel carbon bead string cathode for dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 255:9–1410.1016/j.electacta.2017.09.132 ↗
13. Gong F, Wang H, Xu X, Zhou G, Wang ZS (2012) In situ growth of Co(0.85)Se and Ni(0.85)Se on conductive substrates as high-performance counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Am Chem Soc 134:10953–1095810.1021/ja303034w ↗
14. Grätzel M (2009) Recent advances in sensitized mesoscopic solar cells. Acc Chem Res 42:1788–179810.1021/ar900141y ↗
15. Guo H, Zhu Y, Li W, Zheng H, Wu K, Ding K, Ruan B, Hagfeldt A, Ma T, Wu M (2015) Synthesis of highly effective Pt/carbon fiber composite counter electrode catalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 176:997–100010.1016/j.electacta.2015.07.103 ↗
16. Guo H, Han Q, Gao C, Zheng H, Zhu Y, Wu M (2016) A general approach towards carbon supported metal carbide composites for cobalt redox couple based dye-sensitized solar cells as counter electrodes. J Power Sources 332:399–40510.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.09.140 ↗
17. Hagfeldt A, Boschloo G, Sun L, Kloo L, Pettersson H (2010) Dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Rev 110:6595–666310.1021/cr900356p ↗
18. Hauch A, Georg A (2001) Diffusion in the electrolyte and charge transfer reaction at the platinum electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 46:3457–346610.1016/S0013-4686(01)00540-0 ↗
19. He B, Tang Q, Wang M, Ma C, Yuan S (2014) Complexation of polyaniline and graphene for efficient counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells: enhanced charge transfer ability. J Power Sources 256:8–1310.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.01.053 ↗
20. Hou S, Cai X, Wu H, Yu X, Peng M, Yan K, Zou D (2013) Nitrogen-doped graphene for dye-sensitized solar cells and the role of nitrogen states in triiodide reduction. Energ Environ Sci 6:3356–336210.1039/c3ee42516a ↗
21. Katagirl G, Ishida H, Ishitani A (1988) Raman spectra of graphite edge planes. Carbon 26:565–57110.1016/0008-6223(88)90157-1 ↗
22. Lee RH, Chi CH, Hsu YC (2013) Platinum nanoparticle/self-doping polyaniline compositebased counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Nanopart Res 15:173310.1007/s11051-013-1733-z ↗
23. Li Z, Xu J, Chen L, Zhang R, Xia J (2017) Influence of sheet resistance effect on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell. Electrochim Acta 242:219–22610.1016/j.electacta.2017.04.172 ↗
24. Lin Z, Waller G, Liu Y, Liu M, Wong CP (2012) Facile synthesis of nitrogen-doped graphene via pyrolysis of graphene oxide and urea, and its electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen-reduction reaction. Adv Energy Mater 2:884–88810.1002/aenm.201200038 ↗
25. Ma J, Li C, Yu F, Chen J (2015) “Brick-like” N-doped graphene/carbon nanotube structure forming three-dimensional films as high performance metal-free counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Power Sources 273:1048–105510.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.10.003 ↗
26. Ma J, Shen W, Li C, Zheng J, Yu F (2017) Graphene cryogel-based counter electrode materials freeze-dried using different solution media for dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Eng J 319:155–16210.1016/j.cej.2017.03.010 ↗
27. Mattevi C, Eda G, Agnoli S, Miller S, Mkhoyan KA, Celik O, Mastrogiovanni D, Granozzi G, Garfunkel E, Chhowalla M (2009) Evolution of electrical, chemical, and structural properties of transparent and conducting chemically derived graphene thin films. Adv Funct Mater 19:2577–258310.1002/adfm.200900166 ↗
28. O’Regan B, Grätzel M (1991) A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 353:737–74010.1038/353737a0 ↗
29. Paterakis G, Raptis D, Ploumistos A, Belekoukia M, Sygellou L, Ramasamy MS, Lianos P, Tasis D (2017) N-doped graphene/PEDOT composite films as counter electrodes in DSSCs: unveiling the mechanism of electrocatalytic activity enhancement. Appl Surf Sci 423:443–45010.1016/j.apsusc.2017.06.180 ↗
30. Popov AI, Geske DH (1958) Studies on the chemistry of halogen and of polyhalides. XIII. Voltammetry of iodine species in acetonitrile. J Am Chem Soc 80:1340–135210.1021/ja01539a018 ↗
31. Reddy PY, Giribabu L, Lyness C, Snaith HJ, Vijaykumar C, Chandrasekharam M, Lakshmikantam M, Yum JH, Kalyanasundaram K, Grätzel M, Nazeeruddin MK (2007) Efficient sensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2 films by a near-IR-absorbing unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine. Angew Chem Int Ed 46:373–37610.1002/anie.200603098 ↗
32. Roy-Mayhew JD, Aksay IA (2014) Graphene materials and their use in dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Rev 114:6323–634810.1021/cr400412a ↗
33. Roy-Mayhew JD, Bozym DJ, Punckt C, Aksay IA (2010) Functionalized graphene as a catalytic counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Nano 4:6203–621110.1021/nn1016428 ↗
34. Sengupta D, Mondal B, Mukherjee K (2017) Genesis of flake-like morphology and dye-sensitized solar cell performance of Al-doped ZnO particles: a study. J Nanopart Res 19:10010.1007/s11051-017-3802-1 ↗
35. Siokou A, Ravani F, Karakalos S, Frank O, Kalbac M, Galiotis C (2011) Surface refinement and electronic properties of graphene layers grown on copper substrate: an XPS, UPS and EELS study. Appl Surf Sci 257:9785–979010.1016/j.apsusc.2011.06.017 ↗
36. Song W, He C, Zhang W, Gao Y, Yang Y, Wu Y, Chen Z, Li X, Dong Y (2014a) Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of reduced graphene oxide hybrid material covalently functionalized with zinc phthalocyanine. Carbon 77:1020–103010.1016/j.carbon.2014.06.018 ↗
37. Song J, Li G, Xi K, Lei B, Gao X, Kumar R (2014b) Enhancement of diffusion kinetics in porous MoN nanorods-based counter electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell. J Mater Chem A 2:10041–1004710.1039/c4ta01342e ↗
38. Song L, Luo Q, Zhao F, Li Y, Lin H, Qu L, Zhang Z (2014c) Dually functional, N-doped porous graphene foams as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Phys Chem Chem Phys 16:21820–2182610.1039/C4CP03443K ↗
39. Veerappan G, Bojan K, Rhee SW (2011) Sub-micrometer-sized graphite as a conducting and catalytic counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 3:857–86210.1021/am101204f ↗
40. Vinoth S, Kanlmozhi G, Kumar H, Srinadhu ES, Satyanarayana N (2017) Symbiotic organism search algorithm for simulation of J-V characteristics and optimizing internal parameters of DSSC developed using electrospun TiO2 nanofibers. J Nanopart Res 19:38810.1007/s11051-017-4071-8 ↗
41. Wang G, Fang Y, Lin Y, Xing W, Zhuo S (2012a) Nitrogen-doped graphene as transparent counter electrode for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. Mater Res Bull 47:4252–425610.1016/j.materresbull.2012.09.023 ↗
42. Wang H, Maiyalagan T, Wang X (2012b) Review on recent progress in nitrogen-doped graphene: synthesis, characterization, and its potential applications. ACS Catal 2:781–79410.1021/cs200652y ↗
43. Wang G, Xing W, Zhuo S (2013) Nitrogen-doped graphene as low-cost counter electrode for high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 92:269–27510.1016/j.electacta.2013.01.034 ↗
44. Wu M, Lin X, Wang T, Qiu J, Ma T (2011) Low-cost dye-sensitized solar cell based on nine kinds of carbon counter electrodes. Energy Environ Sci 4:2308–231510.1039/c1ee01059j ↗
45. Wu M, Bai J, Wang Y, Wang A, Lin X, Wang L, Shen Y, Wang Z, Hagfeldt A, Ma T (2012) High-performance phosphide/carbon counter electrode for both iodide and organic redox couples in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem 22:11121–1112710.1039/c2jm30832k ↗
46. Wu M, Guo H, Lin Y, Wu K, Ma T, Hagfeldt A (2014a) Synthesis of highly effective vanadium nitride (VN) peas as a counter electrode catalyst in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Phys Chem C 118:12625–1263110.1021/jp501797e ↗
47. Wu M, Lin Y, Guo H, Ma T, Hagfeldt A (2014b) Highly effective Pt/MoSi2 composite counter electrode catalyst for dye-sensitized solar cell. J Power Source 263:154–15710.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.04.029 ↗
48. Wu M, Lin Y, Guo H, Li W, Wang Y, Lin X (2015) Design a novel kind of open-ended carbon sphere for a highly effective counter electrode catalyst in dye-sensitized solar cells. Nano Energy 11:540–54910.1016/j.nanoen.2014.11.032 ↗
49. Wu CS, Chang TW, Teng H, Lee YL (2016) High performance carbon black counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Energy 115:513–51810.1016/j.energy.2016.09.052 ↗
50. Xing M, Shen F, Qiu B, Zhang J (2014) Highly-dispersed boron-doped graphene nanosheets loaded with TiO2 nanoparticles for enhancing CO2 photoreduction. Sci Rep 4:634110.1038/srep06341 ↗
51. Xu F, Chen J, Wu X, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Sun J, Bi H, Lei W, Ni Y, Sun L (2013) Graphene scaffolds enhanced photogenerated electron transport in ZnO photoanodes for high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. J Phys Chem C 117:8619–862710.1021/jp312379b ↗
52. Xu J, Li M, Wu L, Sun Y, Zhu L, Gu S, Liu L, Bai Z, Fang D, Xu W (2014a) A flexible polypyrrole-coated fabric counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Power Sources 257:230–23610.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.01.123 ↗
53. Xu H, Zhang C, Wang Z, Pang S, Zhou X, Zhang Z, Cui G (2014b) Nitrogen-doped carbon and iron carbide nanocomposites as cost-effective counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem A 2:4676–468110.1039/C3TA14429A ↗
54. Yazdani B, Xia Y, Ahmad I, Zhu Y (2015) Graphene and carbon nanotube (GNT)-reinforced alumina nanocomposites. J Eur Ceram Soc 35:179–18610.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2014.08.043 ↗
55. Yu C, Fang H, Liu Z, Hu H, Meng X, Qiu J (2016a) Chemically grafting graphene oxide to B, N co-doped graphene via ionic liquid and their superior performance for triiodide reduction. Nano Energy 25:184–19210.1016/j.nanoen.2016.04.039 ↗
56. Yu M, Zhang J, Li S, Meng Y, Liu J (2016b) Three-dimensional nitrogen doped holey reduced graphene oxide framework as metal-free counter electrodes for high performance dye-sensitized solar cells. J Power Sources 308:44–5110.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.01.025 ↗
57. Zakeeruddin ZM, Grätzel M (2009) Solvent-free ionic liquid electrolytes for mesoscopic dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv Funct Mater 19:2187–220210.1002/adfm.200900390 ↗
58. Zhang L, Xia Z (2011) Mechanisms of oxygen reduction reaction on nitrogen-doped graphene for fuel cells. J Phys Chem C 115:11170–1117610.1021/jp201991j ↗
59. Zhang Y, Li H, Kuo L, Dong P, Yan F (2015) Recent application of graphene in dye-sensitized solar cells. Curr Opin Colloid 20(20):406–41510.1016/j.cocis.2015.11.002 ↗
60. Zhao J, Ma J, Nan X, Tang B (2016) Application of non-covalent functionalized carbon nanotubes for the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells. Org Electron 30:52–5910.1016/j.orgel.2015.11.032 ↗
61. Zheng H, Guo H, An D, Wu K, Gao C, Han Q, Zhu Y, Lin Y, Wu M (2016) Mo2C microspheres and nanorods as counter electrode catalysts for iodide-free redox couples in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem C 4:6533–653810.1039/C6TC01715K ↗
62. Zhu Y, Guo H, Zheng H, Lin Y, Gao C, Han Q, Wu M (2016) Choose a reasonable counter electrode catalyst toward a fixed redox couple in dye-sensitized solar cells. Nano Energy 21:1–1810.1016/j.nanoen.2016.01.001 ↗
63. Zhu Y, Gao C, Han Q, Wang Z, Wang Y, Zheng H, Wu M (2017) Large-scale high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells based on a Pt/carbon spheres composite catalyst as a flexible counter electrode. J Catal 346:62–6910.1016/j.jcat.2016.11.033 ↗