| The preparation of materials for energy applications gained great importance in some areas such as economy, environmental resources and politics during the past decades through the development of modern societies around the world. One promising energetic material explored during the past years for electronic devices is lithium ion (Li+) for the design and construction of batteries. This small charged atom can be employed under various conditions to modify the atoms organization, including crystal structures, of the materials of interest. Despite the use of lithium for the construction of batteries, this material showed convenient properties during the intercalation of molybdenum disulfide for the preparation of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). In this work, approaches using lithium-based syntheses are employed to produce Li-ion cathode materials and exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (E-MoS2) in DSC.;In Chapter 3 we provide a detailed study of the electrochemical behavior of metal oxides treated with lithium chloride molten flux (LCMF). This electrochemical analysis is complemented with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at different operational temperatures. The possible formation of a "solid solution" was shown through surface analysis and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, presented in Chapter 4..;Chapter 5 describes the preparation of a thin film of E-MoS2 in a DSC, and photoelectrochemical improvements due to this E-MoS2. A hybrid material produced between the E-MoS2 and anatase TiO2 in which MoS2 works as the sensitizer of the system by absorbing in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum was prepared. The E-MoS2 precursor is produced using an intercalation process by wet chemistry techniques. Electrochemical results and surface characterization of E-MoS2 is also shown in these chapters.;Chapter 6 provides an educational focus, explaining concepts such as electrochemistry and corrosion of materials to students by using outreach activities designed for high school and university students. A module containing these two activities and an additional special project with their corresponding results, after being implemented in classroom, are also discussed. |
