Platinum decorated zinc oxide nanowires as an efficient counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells

Well aligned ZnO NWs arrays served as a scaffold for the deposition of Pt by evaporation and their electrocatalytic properties were examined against the iodide/triiodide redox shuttle. By varying the amount of deposited Pt and the aspect ratio of the NWs arrays, an increment in the peak current dens...

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Published in:Journal of electroanalytical chemistry (Lausanne, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2019-02, Vol.835, p.86-95
Main Authors: Syrrokostas, George, Govatsi, Katerina, Leftheriotis, George, Yannopoulos, Spyros N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3D counter electrode
Arrays
Aspect ratio
Catalysis
Dye sensitized solar cells
Dyes
Electrodes
Evaporation
Nanowires
Photovoltaic cells
Platinum
Reduction
Zinc oxide
Zinc oxides
Zinc plating
ZnO nanowires
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Summary:Well aligned ZnO NWs arrays served as a scaffold for the deposition of Pt by evaporation and their electrocatalytic properties were examined against the iodide/triiodide redox shuttle. By varying the amount of deposited Pt and the aspect ratio of the NWs arrays, an increment in the peak current density (up to 87%) and in the reaction rate for I3− reduction were observed, as compared to planar Pt based electrodes prepared by evaporation and electrodeposition. The observed improvements are due to the enhanced surface area, provided by the NWs arrays for Pt deposition, that facilitates also the diffusion of I3− ions to the catalytic active sites. The efficiency of the resulting dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was found to be 12% and 14% higher than that of equivalent DSSCs with evaporated and electrodeposited electrodes, respectively. These results demonstrate that Pt decorated ZnO NWs electrodes can ensure better utilization of the expensive Pt, helping in the cost reduction of DSSCs. [Display omitted] •The catalytic activity of Pt decorated ZnO NWs electrodes was evaluated.•The effect of aspect ratio of the NWs and the amount of deposited Pt was examined.•Compared to other Pt based electrodes a higher peak current up to 87% was achieved.•The efficiency of the resulting dye sensitized solar cells was increased up to 14%.
ISSN:1572-6657
1873-2569
DOI:10.1016/j.jelechem.2019.01.013