CePd‐Nanoparticles‐Incorporated Carbon Nanofibers as Efficient Counter Electrode for DSSCs. Issue 43 (23rd November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ghouri, Zafar Khan; Elsaid, Khaled; Abdala, Ahmed; Abdullah, Abdulmuin M.; Akhtar, Mohammed Shaheer
• Is Part Of: ChemistrySelect. Volume 3:Issue 43(2018)
• Page Start: 12314
• Page End: 12319
• Publication Date: 2018-11-23
• Subjects: Alloys nanoparticles -- Carbon nanofibers -- Cyclic voltammetry -- Electrocatalyst -- Solar cells; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.201802507
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-6549

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, the cerium‐palladium (CePd) incorporated carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were manufactured by low‐cost and versatile electrospinning technique and successfully applied as a counter electrode to fabricate the dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The utilized physiochemical techniques, X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field‐emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) confirmed the formation of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) incorporated by Ce and Pd nanoparticles. CePd incorporated CNFs were preliminary presented good electrocatalytic activity towards the iodide redox couple, as investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The DSSC fabricated using CePd incorporated CNFs based counter electrode (CE) attained an applicable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.52% along with open circuit voltage (VOC ) of 0.739 V, a short‐circuit current density (JSC ) of 11.42 mA/cm 2 and fill factor (FF) of 0.54. According to primary results, the CePd incorporated CNFs based CE is a promising, and cost‐effective alternative CE for photoelectrochemical devices. Abstract : CePd nanoparticles decorated carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared by using the electrospinning techniques, which upon characterization affirmed the formation and well distribution of CePd nanoparticles on the surface of CNFs. The synthesised CePd@CNFs have shown good electrocatalytic performance as counter electrode (CE) for dye‐sensitized solar cells, obtaining high conversion efficiency of 4.52%, current density of 11.42 mA/cm 2, and fill factor (FF) of 0.54, which is highly comparable to those obtained by the ideal Pt‐CE of 6.11%, 13.08, and 0.60 respectively.