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Synthesis of Honeycomb‐like Mesoporous Pyrite FeS 2 Microspheres as Efficient Counter Electrode in Quantum Dots Sensitized Solar Cells
Author(s) -
Xu Jun,
Xue Hongtao,
Yang Xia,
Wei Huaixin,
Li Wenyue,
Li Zhangpeng,
Zhang Wenjun,
Lee ChunSing
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201401102
Subject(s) - mesoporous material , quantum dot , auxiliary electrode , pyrite , materials science , honeycomb , electrode , nanocrystal , microsphere , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , chemical engineering , chemistry , composite material , catalysis , metallurgy , biochemistry , engineering , electrolyte
Honeycomb‐like mesoporous pyrite FeS 2 microspheres, with diameters of 500–800 nm and pore sizes of 25–30 nm, are synthesized by a simple solvothermal approach. The mesoporous FeS 2 microspheres are demonstrated to be an outstanding counter electrode (CE) material in quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) for electrocatalyzing polysulfide electrolyte regeneration. The cell using mesoporous FeS 2 microspheres as CE shows 86.6% enhancement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) than the cell using traditional noble Pt CE. Furthermore, it also shows 11.4% enhancement in PCE than the cell using solid FeS 2 microspheres as CE, due to the mesoporous structure facilitating better contact with polysulfide electrolyte and fast diffusion of redox couple species in electrolyte.