Synthesis The Different Counter Electrode Material For The Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

Today, we are faced with the serious energy crisis in the world. Solar energy as a clean energy is aninexhaustible energy. Solar energy has been greatly concerned. Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a newtype of solar cell, and the cost of raw materials is low, the technology skill is relatively simple. At the sametime, all of the raw materials and the production process is non-toxic, environment friendly andnon-polluting. It has important significance to protect our human environment. DSSC is made of the dyesensitized anode, electrolyte and counter electrode. At present, the highest energy conversion efficiency ofDSSC can reach12%. The counter electrode has an important position in Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC),counter electrode is not only transmission electron but also catalytic reduction redox electricity. Platinum asa precious metal is widely applied to the electrode material. But the price of platinum is too expensive. Toresearch the low content of platinum and non-platinum counter electrode materials has important practicalsignificance.This paper studied the counter electrodes of in-situ growth CoS1.097, CoS2-Graphene and nitrogendoped graphene. CoS1.097and CoS2-Graphene were synthesis by hydrothermal method. Nitrogen dopedgraphene was fabricated via the method of calcination. To research on photovoltaic properties of these threematerials are shown as follows:(1) The in situ growth CoS1.097counter electrode was synthetic via hydrothermal method. Thematerials of CoS1.097have excellent adsorption properties. So it was adsorbed on conductive substrateeasily. The morphology of CoS1.097counter electrode is lamellar structure. And the energy conversion efficiency can reach3.78%. Platinum counter electrode’s PCE can reach4.18%.(2) The composites of CoS2-Gs were synthesis through one-step hydrothermal method. In the presenceof graphene oxide, the reaction happened between cobalt ions and thiourea molecules. Through this method,due to the graphene are easily to bend, graphene sheets can effectively control the size and distribution ofthe CoS2nanoparticles. This is so important significance to obtain efficient materials with effectiveelecatalytic activity. Primarily, CoS2nanoparticles can distribute on the graphene sheets strongly. And theCoS2nanoparticles’ distribution has a high density of particles. When the quality of graphene is50mg,obtained the sample of CoS2-G50presented the highest catalytic activity and the lowest electrolyte diffusionresistance. In a word, the materials of CoS2-G50as counter electrode for DSSC, the energy conversionefficiency can reach6.55%, and it has much higher than others. As the same time the platinum counterelectrode’ PCE reached6.20%. CoS2-Gs have higher catalytic activity and the lower price.(3) Under the condition of nitrogen atmosphere and the high temperature, utilize the method ofcalcinations obtained the different nitrogen content nitrogen doped graphene, which can be reduce thecharge transfer resistance (Rct) of the interface between counter electrode and electrolyte. Moreover, thematerials have the strong catalytic reduction ability for I-/I-3. The photoelectric conversion efficiency ofsample NG3-1can reach5.66%.