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Synthesis of nickel sulfides of different phases for counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells by a solvothermal method with different solvents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2014

Xiao Yang ,
Lei Zhou ,
Ali Feng ,
Huaibao Tang ,
Haijun Zhang ,
Zongling Ding ,
Yongqing Ma ,
Mingzai Wu ,
Shaowei Jin  and
Guang Li
Xiao Yang
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Lei Zhou
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Ali Feng
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Huaibao Tang
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Haijun Zhang
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Zongling Ding
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Yongqing Ma*
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Mingzai Wu
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Shaowei Jin
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Guang Li*
Affiliation:
Anhui Key Laboratory of Information Materials and Devices, Hefei 230601, China
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: liguang1971@ahu.edu.cn
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Abstract

Two phases of nickel sulfide (α-NiS and β-NiS) nanoarchitectures were successfully and controllably synthesized by a facile solvothermal method with two different solvents of alcohol and water, respectively. The products were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer. The sphere-like shape for α-NiS and cross-like shape composed of nanorods for β-NiS are uniform and well distributed as well as their size. Both α-NiS and β-NiS powders were used as counter electrodes (CEs) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It is found that the DSSC with an α-NiS CE performs much better than the one with a β-NiS CE. The energy conversion efficiency of the former was 5.2%, whereas the latter was 4.2%, about 20% increment.

Keywords

nickel sulfidesolvothermal methoddye-sensitized solar cellscounter electrode
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 29 , Issue 8 , 28 April 2014 , pp. 935 - 941
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014 

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