Reduced graphene oxide/macrocyclic iron complex hybrid materials as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Chih-Hung Tsai; Wei-Chih Huang; Wun-Shiuan Wang; Chun-Jyun Shih; Wen-Feng Chi; Yu-Chung Hu; Yuan-Hsiang Yu

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2017.02.002

Reduced graphene oxide/macrocyclic iron complex hybrid materials as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2017 Jun 1:495:111-121. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.02.002. Epub 2017 Feb 4.

Authors

Chih-Hung Tsai¹, Wei-Chih Huang², Wun-Shiuan Wang³, Chun-Jyun Shih², Wen-Feng Chi³, Yu-Chung Hu³, Yuan-Hsiang Yu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Opto-Electronic Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan. Electronic address: cht@mail.ndhu.edu.tw.
² Department of Opto-Electronic Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan.
³ Department of Chemistry, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan. Electronic address: 084916@mail.fju.edu.tw.

PMID: 28189954
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.02.002

Abstract

A novel series of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/macrocyclic iron (Fe) complex hybrid materials were synthesized and then used in the production of counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The electrode properties of various CEs were comprehensively analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry analyses. DSSCs, based on various CEs, were characterized using current density-voltage, incident monochromatic photon-to-current conversion efficiency, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. DSSCs fabricated using the RGO/macrocyclic Fe nanocomposite CEs yielded an efficiency of 6.75%. The RGO/Fe CEs exhibited efficient electrocatalytic capability because catalytic Fe particles were uniformly distributed on the surface of RGO. The results indicated that a DSSC with a RGO/Fe CE can exhibit an efficiency comparable to that of a platinum (Pt) CE DSSC and can therefore replace conventional Pt CE DSSCs to lower the cost of solar cells.

Keywords: Counter electrode; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Graphene oxide; Hybrid materials; Macrocyclic iron complex.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't