A catalytic composite film of MoS2/graphene flake as a counter electrode for Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cells

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2012-12, Vol.85, p.162-168
• Main Authors: Yue, Gentian, Lin, Jeng-Yu, Tai, Sheng-Yen, Xiao, Yaoming, Wu, Jihuai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemistry; Counter electrode; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Dyes; Electrocatalytic activity; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Flakes; General and physical chemistry; Graphene; Graphene flake; Molybdenum disulfide; Molybdenum sulfide; Natural energy; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Platinum; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2012.08.040

► MoS2/graphene flake composite was characterized as CE in Pt-free DSSCs. ► The MoS2/graphene flake CE showed the low Rct of 2.17Ωcm2. ► The efficiency of the Pt-free DSSC reached 5.98% based on the MoS2/graphene flake CE. In this study, a composite film of molybdenum sulfide (MoS2)/graphene flake was characterized as the counter electrode (CE) for Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It was found that the enhanced electrocatalytic activity can be demonstrated when high-conductive graphene flake was introduced into MoS2 film. The cyclic voltammograms showed that the cathodic current density of MoS2/graphene CE was higher than those of MoS2, graphene and Pt CEs due to its lamellar structure. Additionally, MoS2/graphene CE exhibited a low charge-transfer resistance of 2.17Ωcm2. After the optimization in the thickness of MoS2/graphene CE, the power conversion efficiency of the DSSC assembled with the optimized MoS2/graphene reached 5.98% under AM1.5 illumination of 100mWcm−2, which is comparable to that based on the Pt CE.