Electrospun carbon nanofibers decorated with NiS2-FeS2 used as efficient counter electrode for quantum dot sensitized solar cells

Abstract

NiS2-FeS2 composite material is uniformly coated on CNFs by a one-step hydrothermal method with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) prepared by the electrostatic spinning method. A composite NiS2-FeS2/CNFs with Ti-mesh substrate counter electrode (NiS2-FeS2/CNFs CE) is prepared by scraping and coating method on a metal titanium mesh and applied to quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). The photoelectric power conversion efficiency of QDSSCs assembled on NiS2-FeS2/CNFs electrode substrate is 9.85%, which is much higher than that of traditional Cu2S/brass (7.85%). The exceptional achievement can be attributed to the superb amalgamation of the Ti-mesh's excellent electrical conductivity and the NiS2-FeS2/CNFs nanostructure's high and stable catalytic activity. The co-loading of NiS2 and FeS2 reduces the particle size of the composite, enhancing the specific surface area of the counter electrode. It provides abundant catalytic active sites for QDSSCs. The experimental results show that NiS2-FeS2 is expected to be a competitive and efficient QDSSCs CE material.