A Player Often Neglected: Electrochemical Comprehensive Analysis of Counter Electrodes for Quantum Dot Solar Cells

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• 作者：Riccardo Milan ; Mehwish Hassan ; Gurpreet Singh Selopal ; Laura Borgese ; Marta Maria Natile ; Laura E. Depero ; Giorgio Sberveglieri ; Isabella Concina
• 刊名：ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：March 30, 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：8
• 期：12
• 页码：7766-7776
• 全文大小：514K
• ISSN：1944-8252

文摘

The role played by the counter electrode (CE) in quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) is crucial: it is indeed responsible for catalyzing the regeneration of the redox electrolyte after its action to take back the oxidized light harvesters to the ground state, thus keeping the device active and stable. The activity of CE is moreover directly related to the fill factor and short circuit current through the resistance of the interface electrode–electrolyte that affects the series resistance of the cell. Despite that, too few efforts have been devoted to a comprehensive analysis of this important device component. In this work we combine an extensive electrochemical characterization of the most common materials exploited as CEs in QDSSCs (namely, Pt, Au, Cu₂S obtained by brass treatment, and Cu₂S deposited on conducting glass via spray) with a detailed characterization of their surface composition and morphology, aimed at systematically defining the relationship between their nature and electrocatalytic activity.