Constructing high-performance H3PW12O40/CoS2 counter electrodes for quantum dot sensitized solar cells by reducing the surface work function of CoS2

A low cost H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ (PW₁₂)/CoS₂ complex is prepared and used as a counter electrode (CE) to combine with sandwich quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) composed of a TiO₂/CdS/CdSe/ZnS photoanode and polysulfide electrolyte to study their photovoltaic properties via a simple hydrothermal method. Under standard simulated sunlight, the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2%PW₁₂ (PW₁₂-2/CoS₂) doped CEs was 6.29%, which was significantly 67.7% higher than those of QDSSCs based on undoped CoS₂ CEs (3.75%). Due to the introduction of PW₁₂, the nanoparticles forming the hollow structure of CoS₂ changed from regular octahedra to rough nanoparticles, which increase the active sites. At the same time, the work function of CoS₂ decorated with PW₁₂ is decreased. This study and discovery demonstrate that POMs can be used to optimize CE materials and improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency of QDSSCs, which provide an experimental and theoretical basis for subsequent investigations.

CuInSe2 nanotube arrays for efficient solar energy conversion

Highly uniform and vertically aligned p-type CuInSe₂ (CISe) nanotube arrays were fabricated through a unique protocol, incorporating confined electrodeposition on lithographically patterned nanoelectrodes. This protocol can be readily adapted to fabricate nanotube arrays of other photoabsorber and functional materials with precisely controllable design parameters. Ternary CISe nanotube arrays were electrodeposited congruently from a single electrolytic bath and the resulting nanotube arrays were studied through powder X-ray diffraction as well as elemental analysis which revealed compositional purity. Detailed photoelectrochemical (PEC) characterizations in a liquid junction cell were also carried out to investigate the photoconversion efficiency. It was observed that the tubular geometry had a strong influence on the photocurrent response and a 29.9% improvement of the photoconversion efficiency was observed with the nanotube array compared to a thin film geometry fabricated by the same process. More interestingly such enhancement in photoconversion efficiency was obtained when the electrode coverage with the nanotube arrays as photoactive material was only a fraction (~10%) of that for the thin film device. Apart from enhancement in photoconversion efficiency, this versatile technique provides ample opportunities to study novel photovoltaic materials and device design architectures where structural parameters play a key role such as resonant light trapping.

High-Throughput Screening and Optimization of Binary Quantum Dots Cosensitized Solar Cell

Quantum dots (QDs) are considered as the alternative of dye sensitizers for solar cells. However, interfacial construction and evaluation of photocatalytic nanomaterials still remains challenge through the conventional methodology involving demo devices. We propose here a high-throughput screening and optimizing method based on combinatorial chemistry and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). A homogeneous TiO2 catalyst layer is coated on a FTO substrate, which is then covered by a dark mask to expose the photocatalyst array. On each photocatalyst spot, different successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) processes are performed by a programmed solution dispenser to load the binary PbxCd1-xS QDs sensitizers. An optical fiber is employed as the scanning tip of SECM, and the photocatalytic current is recorded during the imaging experiment, through which the optimized technical parameters are figured out. To verify the validity of the combinatorial SECM imaging results, the controlled trials are performed with the corresponding photovoltaic demo devices. The harmonious accordance proved that the methodology based on combinatorial chemistry and SECM is valuable for the interfacial construction, high-throughput screening, and optimization of QDSSCs. Furthermore, the PbxCd1-xS/CdS QDs cosensitized solar cell optimized by SECM achieves a short circuit current density of 24.47 mA/cm(2), an open circuit potential of 421 mV, a fill factor of 0.52, and a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 5.33%.

Enzymeless biosensor based on β-NiS@rGO/Au nanocomposites for simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid, epinephrine and uric acid

In this study, marigold flower-like self-assembled β-NiS (nickel sulfide) nanosheets were grown on rGO (reduced graphene oxide) by a single-step hydrothermal process and then gold nanospheres (AuNS) were electrochemically deposited on the β-NiS@rGO nanostructures.