Synthesis of a petroleum asphalt-based nitrogen/sulfur doped porous carbon material and its use as the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells

YANG Wang; LI Rui; HOU Li-qiang; DENG Bi-jian; LI Yong-feng

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Article Navigation > New Carbon Mater. > 2020 > 35(3): 253-261

YANG Wang, LI Rui, HOU Li-qiang, DENG Bi-jian, LI Yong-feng. Synthesis of a petroleum asphalt-based nitrogen/sulfur doped porous carbon material and its use as the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells. New Carbon Mater., 2020, 35(3): 253-261.

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Synthesis of a petroleum asphalt-based nitrogen/sulfur doped porous carbon material and its use as the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells

State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China

Funds: National Natural Science Foundation of China (21908245, 21776308, 21576289); Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum, Beijing (2462018YJRC009, 2462017YJRC051).

Received Date: 2020-02-20
Rev Recd Date: 2020-05-20
Publish Date: 2020-06-28

Abstract

Abstract

A nitrogen/sulfur-doped porous carbon material (NSPC) was synthesized using petroleum asphalt as both carbon and sulfur sources, and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) as a template and nitrogen source. Its use as the counter electrode (CE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated. Results indicated that g-C₃N₄ was totally decomposed during carbonization, giving the NSPC abundant N dopants and nanopores. The NSPC had a high electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of I₃^- without any Pt catalyst and delivered a high power conversion efficiency of 7.91% as the CE of a DSSC, which is slightly superior to that of Pt CE. The NSPC had an ultrahigh pore volume (4.49 cm³/g) and excellent wettability, providing abundant accessible surface area and facilitated the fast mass transport of reactants. NSPC has potential as a low-cost and efficient CE material for the large-scale use of DSSCs, and provides a new way to add value to low-cost petroleum asphalt.
- Petroleum asphalt,
- Carbon materials,
- Pore structure,
- Electrocatalysis,
- Dye-sensitized solar cells

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