Highly crystalline stannite-phase Cu^sub 2^XSnS^sub 4^ (X = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn and Cd) nanoflower counter electrodes for ZnO-based dye-sensitised solar cells

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 696; p. 938
• Main Authors: Xie, Yahong, Zhang, Chunyang, Yang, Guihua, Yang, Jianya, Zhou, Xiaofeng, Ma, Junbao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier BV 05.03.2017
• Subjects: Cadmium; Catalysis; Catalytic activity; Chalcopyrite; Chemical composition; Cobalt; Copper; Crystal structure; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Dyes; Electrodes; Electrolytic cells; Energy conversion efficiency; Iron; Manganese; Nickel; Photovoltaic cells; Semiconductors; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669

Quaternary chalcopyrite sulfide semiconductors Cu2XSnS4 (X = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn and Cd) are successfully prepared by using a solvothermal method. Crystal structure, elemental composition and morphology of the as-synthesized nanoflowers are characterised using XRD, XPS, EDS, TEM and SEM. Photovoltaic and catalytic performances based on prepared samples as counter-electrode (CE) materials in ZnO-based dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) are investigated based on N719 dye and iodide/triiodide electrolyte. Notably, Cu2XSnS4 (X = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd) all show excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of I3- to I- in the electrolyte. In addition, Cu2MnSnS4 and Cu2NiSnS4 are explored as CE materials for DSSCs for the first time. Cu24 and Cu2NiSnS4 exhibit power conversion efficiency values of 6.18% and 6.12%, respectively, which are comparable to the photovoltaic performance of the DSSCs using a Pt CE (6.09%).