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Novel 2D-AuSe nanostructures as effective platinum replacement counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells
Studies to improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) include, but are not limited to, finding alternatives such as 2D layered materials as replacement counter electrodes (CEs) to the commonly used Pt. Herein, we report for the first time, the use of AuSe as a counter electrode for...
Autores principales: | , , , , , , , |
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Formato: | Online Artículo Texto |
Lenguaje: | English |
Publicado: |
The Royal Society of Chemistry
2022
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Materias: | |
Acceso en línea: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9049006/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35496337 http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2ra00568a |
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author | Mposa, Esmie Sithole, Rudo K. Ndala, Zakhele Ngubeni, Grace N. Mubiayi, Kalenga P. Shumbula, Poslet M. Machogo-Phao, Lerato F. E. Moloto, Nosipho |
author_facet | Mposa, Esmie Sithole, Rudo K. Ndala, Zakhele Ngubeni, Grace N. Mubiayi, Kalenga P. Shumbula, Poslet M. Machogo-Phao, Lerato F. E. Moloto, Nosipho |
author_sort | Mposa, Esmie |
collection | PubMed |
description | Studies to improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) include, but are not limited to, finding alternatives such as 2D layered materials as replacement counter electrodes (CEs) to the commonly used Pt. Herein, we report for the first time, the use of AuSe as a counter electrode for the reduction of triiodide ions (I(3)(−)) to iodide ions (I(−)). The colloidal synthesis of gold selenide nanostructures produced α-AuSe and β-AuSe dominated products as determined by XRD. Electron microscopy showed α-AuSe having belt-like structures while β-AuSe had a plate-like morphology. EDS mapping confirmed the elemental composition and homogeneity of the AuSe CEs. Cyclic voltammetry curves of the AuSe CEs displayed the double set of reduction–oxidation peaks associated with the reactions in the I(3)(−)/I(−) electrolyte and therefore were comparable to the Pt CV curve. The α-AuSe CE showed better electrocatalytic activity with a reduction current of 6.1 mA than that of β-AuSe and Pt CEs, which were 4.2 mA and 4.8 mA, respectively. The peak-to-peak separation (ΔE(pp)) for the α-AuSe CE was also more favourable with a value of 532 mV over that of the β-AuSe CE of 739 mV however, both values were larger than that of the Pt CE, which was found to be 468 mV. The EIS and Tafel plot data showed that α-AuSe had the best catalytic activity compared to β-AuSe and was comparable to Pt. The DSSC using α-AuSe as a CE had the highest PCE (6.94%) as compared to Pt (4.89%) and β-AuSe (3.47%). The lower efficiency for Pt was attributed to the poorer fill factor. With these novel results, α-AuSe is an excellent candidate to be used as an alternative CE to Pt in DSSCs. |
format | Online Article Text |
id | pubmed-9049006 |
institution | National Center for Biotechnology Information |
language | English |
publishDate | 2022 |
publisher | The Royal Society of Chemistry |
record_format | MEDLINE/PubMed |
spelling | pubmed-90490062022-04-28 Novel 2D-AuSe nanostructures as effective platinum replacement counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells Mposa, Esmie Sithole, Rudo K. Ndala, Zakhele Ngubeni, Grace N. Mubiayi, Kalenga P. Shumbula, Poslet M. Machogo-Phao, Lerato F. E. Moloto, Nosipho RSC Adv Chemistry Studies to improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) include, but are not limited to, finding alternatives such as 2D layered materials as replacement counter electrodes (CEs) to the commonly used Pt. Herein, we report for the first time, the use of AuSe as a counter electrode for the reduction of triiodide ions (I(3)(−)) to iodide ions (I(−)). The colloidal synthesis of gold selenide nanostructures produced α-AuSe and β-AuSe dominated products as determined by XRD. Electron microscopy showed α-AuSe having belt-like structures while β-AuSe had a plate-like morphology. EDS mapping confirmed the elemental composition and homogeneity of the AuSe CEs. Cyclic voltammetry curves of the AuSe CEs displayed the double set of reduction–oxidation peaks associated with the reactions in the I(3)(−)/I(−) electrolyte and therefore were comparable to the Pt CV curve. The α-AuSe CE showed better electrocatalytic activity with a reduction current of 6.1 mA than that of β-AuSe and Pt CEs, which were 4.2 mA and 4.8 mA, respectively. The peak-to-peak separation (ΔE(pp)) for the α-AuSe CE was also more favourable with a value of 532 mV over that of the β-AuSe CE of 739 mV however, both values were larger than that of the Pt CE, which was found to be 468 mV. The EIS and Tafel plot data showed that α-AuSe had the best catalytic activity compared to β-AuSe and was comparable to Pt. The DSSC using α-AuSe as a CE had the highest PCE (6.94%) as compared to Pt (4.89%) and β-AuSe (3.47%). The lower efficiency for Pt was attributed to the poorer fill factor. With these novel results, α-AuSe is an excellent candidate to be used as an alternative CE to Pt in DSSCs. The Royal Society of Chemistry 2022-04-28 /pmc/articles/PMC9049006/ /pubmed/35496337 http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2ra00568a Text en This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
spellingShingle | Chemistry Mposa, Esmie Sithole, Rudo K. Ndala, Zakhele Ngubeni, Grace N. Mubiayi, Kalenga P. Shumbula, Poslet M. Machogo-Phao, Lerato F. E. Moloto, Nosipho Novel 2D-AuSe nanostructures as effective platinum replacement counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells |
title | Novel 2D-AuSe nanostructures as effective platinum replacement counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells |
title_full | Novel 2D-AuSe nanostructures as effective platinum replacement counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells |
title_fullStr | Novel 2D-AuSe nanostructures as effective platinum replacement counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells |
title_full_unstemmed | Novel 2D-AuSe nanostructures as effective platinum replacement counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells |
title_short | Novel 2D-AuSe nanostructures as effective platinum replacement counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells |
title_sort | novel 2d-ause nanostructures as effective platinum replacement counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells |
topic | Chemistry |
url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9049006/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35496337 http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2ra00568a |
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