An efficient dye-sensitized solar cell with a promising material of Bi4Ti3O12 nanofibers/graphene. (10th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Yuhong; Zheng, Haiwu; Zhang, Xinan; Liang, Xiao; Yue, Gentian; Li, Fengzhu; Zhu, Mingsai; Li, Tianfeng; Tian, Jianjun; Yin, Guosheng
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 215(2016)
• Page Start: 543
• Page End: 549
• Publication Date: 2016-10-10
• Subjects: Bi4Ti3O12 -- Graphene -- Counter Electrode -- Dye-sensitized Solar Cells; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2016.08.086
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: In this work, the composites of Bi4 Ti3 O12 /graphere (BTO/Gr) are used as counter electrode (CE) through facile method based on sol-gel and electrospinning techniques to improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The structure and morphology of the composites with different ratios are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The optical bandgap of the composites decreases as Gr content increases. The electrochemical performance of BTO/Gr CE is characterized by cyclic voltammetry curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Tafel polarization curves and photocurrent density-voltage character curves. Compared with pure BTO CE, BTO/Gr CE has a higher electrocatalytic activity and a lower charge transfer resistance in the electrolyte/electrode interface. The power conversion efficiency of DSSCs with BTO/Gr CE (contained 2.5 wt.% Gr), has reached 9.70% under a simulated solar illumilnation of 100 mW/cm 2, which is much larger than that of BTO CE. The power conversion efficiency amounts to 79.6% of the Pt CE and 86.2% of the graphene CE.