Abstract
Zeolitic-imidazole frameworks (ZIFs), as novel porous materials, are attracting much attention in several fields due to their special advantages such as large specific surface area, versatile porosity and well-connected networks. Here, we develop a porous ZIF-derived catalytic thin film, which was coated on the conducting glass as a counter electrode (CE) to substitute costly platinum for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). A ZIF layer is first prepared by coating ZIF-67 powders on the conducting glass, followed by the careful calcination treatments in sulfur vapour (sulfuration) or nitrogen gas (carbonization). The structure and morphologies of the derived porous film are characterized by the measurements of XRD, SEM and BET, and the electrochemical properties in the polysulfide solution are evaluated by the measurements of Tafel curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies. The derived porous film is used as a CE to fabricate QDSSC with CdSe quantum dot-sensitized TiO2 nanocrystalline thin film and the polysulfide solution. Compared with the photovoltaic performance of CdSe QDSSCs based on the CE prepared by the different sulfuration conditions, QDSSC based on the CE derived by the sulfuration for 30 min shows an excellent light-to-electric conversion efficiency of 3.77%, it is even higher than that of QDSSC based on Pt CE (2.98%). This work will open a new avenue to design a facile, low-cost and renewable CE for QDSSC.
Highlights
Quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC), as a most potential application in the field of solar cell in future [1], consists of quantum dot-sensitized nanoporous thin film photoelectrode, electrolyte and counter electrode (CE)
If metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are carefully calcinated under inert gas, their porous structure can survive after organic ligands except carbon are burned off
The efficient zeolitic-imidazole framework (ZIF)-67-derived CE was prepared by vulcanizing ZIF-67 thin film
Summary
Quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC), as a most potential application in the field of solar cell in future [1], consists of quantum dot-sensitized nanoporous thin film photoelectrode, electrolyte and counter electrode (CE). High catalytic activity and excellent conductivity should be taken into account in searching for a good CE material. We developed an efficient and stable ZIF-67-derived CE for QDSSCs by a simple and effective interface sulfuration and carbonization method. The hybrid porous carbon with CoS can be prepared by the sulfuration processes. With ZIFs as the precursor, the hybrid material of CoS containing carbon can be formed. The ZIF-derived CEs will lead to better catalytic performance and higher light-to-electric conversion efficiency. The performance of the ZIF-67-derived porous material as CE of QDSSCs was measured to evaluate the catalytic activity of the derived CE
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