Abstract
The highly flexible ZrO2/C nanofiber film was fabricated by electrospinning followed by heat treatment of stabilization and carbonization. The effects of carbonization temperature on the morphology, microstructure, and performance of ZrO2/C nanofiber film were investigated. As the temperature increases, the tetragonal phase of the ZrO2 nanoparticles gradually transformed into monoclinic phase. As a result, the mechanical and electrical properties of the ZrO2/C nanofiber film were improved. When the temperature reached 1100 °C, the ZrO2/C nanofiber film exhibited the best flexibility with the flexural modulus of 6.24 ± 0.08 MPa, the highest conductivity of 476.5 S/m, and promising electrocatalytic activity. These improvements can be ascribed to the phase transition toughening effect of ZrO2 nanoparticles, the increase in oxygen vacancy concentration in ZrO2, and the improvement in graphitization of carbon matrix. Hence, the ZrO2/C nanofiber film served as a counter electrode for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells, and an efficiency of 2.97% was achieved.
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