Electrospun porous Fe2O3 nanotubes as counter electrodes for dye‐sensitized solar cells. (7th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Chenle; Zhang, Peixin; Zhang, Han
• Is Part Of: International journal of energy research. Volume 43:Number 10(2019)
• Page Start: 5355
• Page End: 5366
• Publication Date: 2019-06-07
• Subjects: counter electrode -- dye‐sensitized solar cells -- electrospinning -- Fe2O3 -- nanotube; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Research -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1002/er.4624
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-907X

Abstract

Summary: Porous Fe2 O3 nanostructures were synthesized through electrospinning of Fe (NO3 )3 /polyvinylpyrrolidone followed by calcination in air. The morphology of the resultant Fe2 O3 was tuned by changing the ratio between Fe (NO3 )3 and the polymer matrix. The performance of these nanostructures as counter electrodes in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated. It was found that nanotubes exhibit significantly higher catalytic efficiency toward reducing I − /I3 − electrolytes than nanorods and nanobelts, showing a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 4.0%, also superior to a range of transition metal oxides. Furthermore, the nanotube‐based counter electrode showed lower resistance than other Fe2 O3 nanostructures. These results were attributed to the high specific surface area (90.2 m 2 g −1 ) of the nanotubes, which provides a large reaction site and can promote the charge transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. The low cost and ease of mass production make Fe2 O3 nanotube a promising candidate to replace Pt as the counter electrode in DSSCs. Abstract : Mesoporous Fe2 O3 nanostructures with high surface areas were synthesized through electrospinning of Fe (NO3 )3 /polyvinylpyrrolidone, and the morphology of the resultant Fe2 O3 was tuned by changing the ratio between Fe (NO3 )3 and the polymer matrix. The effect of the morphology of Fe2 O3 on the performance as a counter electrode (CE) in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated and the nanotubes showing a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 4.0%, which is superior to a range of transition metal oxides reported in literatures. The fabrication method demonstrated in this work is facile and of low cost, and thus, electrospun Fe2 O3 nanotubes might be a good candidate to replace Pt electrodes.