Effects of Electrolytes on the Photocurrent of N‐Annulated Perylene‐Sensitized Photoelectrochemical Cells Based on NiO as Photocathode. Issue 21 (28th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Shicong; Li, Xing; Yun, Kang; Yu, Fengtao; Hua, Jianli
• Is Part Of: ChemElectroChem. Volume 5:Issue 21(2018)
• Page Start: 3198
• Page End: 3205
• Publication Date: 2018-08-28
• Subjects: dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell -- electrolyte -- NiO; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1002/celc.201801038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-0216

Abstract

Abstract: The new organic dye NPP with N‐annulated perylene (NP) as donor, bithiophene as π bridge and perylenemonoimide (PMI) as acceptor has been synthesized and applied for dye‐sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DSPEC). Phosphate (PBS), sodium sulfate (Na2 SO4 ) and acetate buffer solution (ABS) have been employed as electrolytes to investigate their effects on the photocurrent of the DSPEC. After 200 s illumination, PBS, ABS and Na2 SO4 based cells exhibited a photocurrent of −13, −7 and −7 μA cm −2, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) indicated that the DSPEC device with PBS as electrolyte showed the smallest charge transfer resistance (Rct ) and largest hole lifetime, which might best explain the highest photocurrent found for the PBS based device. In addition, incident monochromatic photon‐to‐electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of the photoelectrochemical cells with PBS, ABS and Na2 SO4 aqueous solution as electrolytes was determined. The IPCE of the PBS based device was the highest at 430∼620 nm and the result was consistent with the measured photocurrent. However, under long‐time illumination, the acetate buffer solution based device displayed the highest stability. Hence, the results show that the electrolytes have a significant effect on the photocurrent and stability of DSPECs. Abstract : Performance vs. stability : phosphate (PBS), sodium sulfate (Na2 SO4 ) and acetate buffer solution (ABS) are employed as electrolytes to investigate their effects on the photocurrent of NPP‐based dye‐sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DSPECs). PBS based PECs show the highest current density and the ABS based PEC displays the best stability. Our work provides a new strategy for the design of DSPEC in the future.