A CNT/TiO<sub>2-x</sub> N<sub>x</sub> composite as a high electrocatalytic active counter electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell

YU Chang; CUI Dan; LIU Cheng-jing; MENG Xiang-tong; LIU Zhi-qiang; QIU Jie-shan

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Article Navigation > New Carbon Mater. > 2017 > 32(4): 374-379

YU Chang, CUI Dan, LIU Cheng-jing, MENG Xiang-tong, LIU Zhi-qiang, QIU Jie-shan. A CNT/TiO2-x Nx composite as a high electrocatalytic active counter electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell. New Carbon Mater., 2017, 32(4): 374-379.

Citation:

YU Chang, CUI Dan, LIU Cheng-jing, MENG Xiang-tong, LIU Zhi-qiang, QIU Jie-shan. A CNT/TiO_2-x N_x composite as a high electrocatalytic active counter electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell. New Carbon Mater., 2017, 32(4): 374-379.

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A CNT/TiO_2-x N_x composite as a high electrocatalytic active counter electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell

Liaoning Key Lab for Energy Materials and Chemical Engineer, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China

Funds: NSFC (U1203292,21336001);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (DUT14LAB06).

Received Date: 2017-05-30
Accepted Date: 2017-08-31
Rev Recd Date: 2017-07-28
Publish Date: 2017-08-28

Abstract

Abstract

A CNT/TiO_2-x N_x composite was synthesized by an integrated hydrothermal and NH₃ annealing method. The as-synthesized composite was characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS, and its catalytic activity as a counter electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, Tafel-polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and I-V techniques. Results show that nitrogen was successfully doped into the TiO₂ crystal lattice. CNTs with a diameter of 30-50 nm interconnect with the TiO_2-x N_x nanowires with a diameter of 3-8 nm, leading to a network structure. Benefiting from the high electrocatalytic activity of TiO_2-x N_x and the high conductivity of CNTs, the composite demonstrates a higher power conversion efficiency (7.16%) than pure CNTs (4.67%) as the counter electrode of the DSSC, and this value is comparable to that of a noble Pt electrode.
- CNTs,
- CNT/TiO_2-_xN_xcomposites,
- Counter electrode,
- DSSC

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References(22)

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