Mo2C-based binary and ternary nanocomposites as high-efficiency counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

• Published in: Ceramics international Vol. 45; no. 12; pp. 15589 - 15595
• Main Authors: Yun, Sining, Hou, Yuzhi, Wang, Chen, Zhang, Yangliang, Zhou, Xiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.08.2019
• Subjects: Catalysts; Counter electrode; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Mo2C-based nanocomposites; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Mo2C-based nanocomposites; Catalysts; Counter electrode
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.05.068

Mo-based binary/ternary nanocomposites were designed and prepared via soft template synthesis by combining Mo2C and Bi/Mo2C into mesoporous carbon (MC). The materials were characterized by using various analytical and electrochemical techniques. When Mo2C/MC composites were used as counter electrodes (CEs) in iodide-mediated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the cells reached 7.29%, and the performance of DSSC with Bi/Mo2C/MC was 8.06%, which was much higher than that of the cell with Pt CE (7.08%). The excellent electrochemical stability of Mo-based nanocomposites in triiodide/iodide electrolyte indicated that they could be promising alternatives to Pt electrodes in DSSCs. This work provided a new idea for the development of metal/carbide/carbon nanocomposite CE materials for DSSCs. [Display omitted] •Mo2C/MC, and Bi/Mo2C/MC CEs were prepared by soft template method.•Metal Bi was succesfully introduced into Mo2C/MC for CE in DSSCs.•Mo-based CEs exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity and stability.•Bi/Mo2C/MC as CE in DSSC yielded a higher PCE of 8.06% than Pt (6.46%).