Abstract
The present study reports the use of one-dimensional carbon wrapped VO2(M) nanofiber (VO2(M)/C) as a cost-effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs); where M denotes monoclinic crystal system. Uniform short length nanofiber was synthesised by a sol-gel based simple and versatile electrospinning and post carbonization technique. The investigation of nanostructure and morphological analysis were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) with EDAX. The electrochemical response was comprehensively characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel polarization. The electrochemical analysis of the VO2(M)/C nanofiber counter electrode exhibits significant electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of triiodide and low charge transfer resistance at the electrode-electrolyte interface. The DSSCs fabricated with carbon-wrapped VO2(M) nanofiber CE showed high power conversion efficiency of 6.53% under standard test condition of simulated 1SUN illumination at AM1.5 G, which was comparable to the 7.39% observed for conventional thermally decomposed Pt CE based DSSC under same test conditions. This result encourages the next step of modification and use of low-cost VO2(M) as an alternate counter electrode for DSSCs to achieve a substantial efficiency for future energy demand.
Highlights
More threatening next-generation energy demand and global pollution have a promising solution from renewable energy production and utilization
The material has been characterized in detail and tested as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for the first time, which showed good electrocatalytic performance and photo conversion efficiency of 6.53%, which is comparable to the value 7.39% obtained for the conventional thermally decomposed Pt CE under standard simulated 1SUN irradiation at AM1.5 G
Uniform VO2(M)/C nanofiber were successfully prepared by carbonization of the as woven electrospun nanofiber, which served as a counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells
Summary
More threatening next-generation energy demand and global pollution have a promising solution from renewable energy production and utilization. Among the above mentioned counter electrodes, some material exhibits superior characteristics like high electrical conductivity, high electrocatalytic activity, low cost and naturally abundant as compared to platinum and some materials behave inferior where still research is undertaken to improve the performance by making composites. Transition metal compounds including carbide, nitrides and oxides are identified as a potential candidate to substitute Pt due to their characteristic features such as low cost, thermal stability, durability, high thermal and electrical conductivity and more importantly its catalytic activity similar to platinum as reported[12]. More reports have demonstrated that, the temperature induced phase transition facilitates appreciable change in the optical and electrical property[16] This Transition metal oxide (VO2) has been identified as an unique material with different potential applications including energy storage, optical switching devices, capacitors, electro-chromic and thermo-chromic device due to its characteristic electrochemical and optical properties[17,18]. The 1D morphology and carbon wrapping over the surface has improved the photoconversion efficiency of VO2(M) remarkably
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