Flowerlike molybdenum sulfide/multi-walled carbon nanotube hybrid as Pt-free counter electrode used in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

A flowerlike molybdenum sulfide/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MoS2/MWCNT) hybrid is prepared and used as an efficient Pt-free counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Field emission scanning electron microscopy observes that the flowerlike MoS2/MWCNTs possess lamellar and large specific surface area, which benefits the enhancement of electrocatalytic activity. Cyclic voltammogram measurement indicates that MoS2/MWCNT CE has larger current density smaller overpotential than MoS2, MWCNT, even Pt CEs. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that the MoS2/MWCNT with optimal MWCNT content has low charge-transfer resistance of 2.05Ω×cm2 and series resistance of 1.13Ω·cm2. Under simulated solar light irradiation with intensity of 100mW·cm−2 (AM1.5), the DSSC based on the MoS2/MWCNT CE achieves a power conversion efficiency of 7.50 %, which is comparable with the solar cells based on the Pt CE (7.49%).