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Barichello J, Spadaro D, Gullace S, Sinopoli A, Calandra P, Irrera A, Matteocci F, Calogero G, Caramori S, Bignozzi CA. Optically Transparent Gold Nanoparticles for DSSC Counter-Electrode: An Electrochemical Characterization. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134178. [PMID: 35807425 PMCID: PMC9268613 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A gold nanoparticles transparent electrode was realized by chemical reduction. This work aims to compare the transparent gold nanoparticles electrode with a more commonly utilized gold-film-coated electrode in order to investigate its potential use as counter-electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A series of DSSC devices, utilizing I−/I3− and Co(III)/(II) polypyridine redox mediators [Co(dtb)3]3+/2+; dtb = 4,4′ditert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine)], were evaluated. The investigation focused firstly on the structural characterization of the deposited gold layers and then on the electrochemical study. The novelty of the work is the realization of a gold nanoparticles CE that reached 80% of average visible transmittance. We finally examined the performance of the transparent gold nanoparticles CE in DSSC devices. A maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.56% was obtained with a commercial I−/I3−-based electrolyte, while a maximum 3.1% of PCE was obtained with the homemade Co-based electrolyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Barichello
- IPCF-CNR, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy; (J.B.); (D.S.); (A.I.)
- CHOSE—Center for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Donatella Spadaro
- IPCF-CNR, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy; (J.B.); (D.S.); (A.I.)
| | - Sara Gullace
- ISIS UMR 7006, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France;
| | - Alessandro Sinopoli
- QEERI—Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar;
| | - Pietro Calandra
- CNR-ISMN, National Research Council—Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, Via Salaria km 29.300, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alessia Irrera
- IPCF-CNR, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy; (J.B.); (D.S.); (A.I.)
| | - Fabio Matteocci
- CHOSE—Center for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Calogero
- IPCF-CNR, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy; (J.B.); (D.S.); (A.I.)
- Correspondence: (G.C.); (S.C.)
| | - Stefano Caramori
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
- Correspondence: (G.C.); (S.C.)
| | - Carlo Alberto Bignozzi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
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