Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Lan Zhou, Hong Ling Ren, Chun Qin Yang, Ya Xue Wu, Bin Bin Jin
Summary: By using the SILAR method, ATO porous matrix film-supported CuS composites were constructed on a fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrate, showing excellent electrocatalytic activity. Through optimizing the deposition cycles, a stable efficiency was achieved while improving the conductivity.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bin Bin Jin, Hui Sheng Huang, Shu Ying Kong, Guo Qing Zhang, Biao Yang, Chu Xing Jiang, Ya Zhou, Dan Jun Wang, Jing Hui Zeng
Summary: In this study, ATO/PbSe composite was designed as the counter electrode for QDSSCs, showing enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability compared to PbSe CE obtained by PVD. The improved performance is attributed to the high specific surface area, permeability, conductivity, and interface connectivity of ATO/PbSe CE, providing more active sites for reduction and fast channels for ion diffusion and electron transport. As a result, the CdS QDSSCs and CdS/CdSe co-sensitized QDSSCs assembled with ATO/PbSe CE exhibited higher power conversion efficiency than PbSe CE obtained by PVD, with stable photovoltaic properties over 200 minutes.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Meitong Chu, Zhonglin Du, Yanying Zhang, Lin Li, Shujie Jiao, Fahad Azad, Shichen Su
Summary: In this study, a graphene/Cu2-xSe composite material was prepared and studied for its photovoltaic and electrochemical properties. By optimizing the ratio of GR:Cu2-xSe and sintering temperature, the QDSCs based on the optimized GR/Cu2-xSe composite CE showed a significant improvement in cell performance compared to other types of CEs, with a PCE of 6.66%. The enhanced performance of the composite CE was attributed to the combination of high catalytic activity of Cu2-xSe nanoparticles and good conductivity of graphene, suggesting that GR/Cu2-xSe composite CE could be a potential candidate for high efficiency QDSCs.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Y. He, G. Yue, J. Huo, C. Dong, G. Xie, F. Tan
Summary: Transition metal phosphides have similar properties to transition metal nitrides and carbides, showing excellent reaction activity and catalytic selectivity. By utilizing Mxene as a carrier, MoP/MoNiP2@Ti3C2 composite was successfully synthesized, exhibiting superior catalytic performance in dye-sensitized solar cells.
MATERIALS TODAY SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
S. Monika, M. Mahalakshmi, N. Subha, M. Senthil Pandian, P. Ramasamy
Summary: A composite material of zero-dimensional graphene quantum dots anchored on reduced graphene oxide sheets was successfully synthesized and used as a counter electrode material for CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells. The composite showed significantly improved power conversion efficiency for solar cells.
DIAMOND AND RELATED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
S. Monika, M. Mahalakshmi, K. Veerathangam, M. Senthil Pandian, P. Ramasamy
Summary: CuS is widely used as a counter electrode material in QDSSCs. In this study, carbon black was used as a scaffolding material to improve the performance of CuS counter electrode. The results showed that the carbon black significantly enhanced the power conversion efficiency of QDSSC.
APPLIED PHYSICS A-MATERIALS SCIENCE & PROCESSING
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Layla Haythoor Kharboot, Nor Akmal Fadil, Tuty Asma Abu Bakar, Abdillah Sani Mohd Najib, Norhuda Hidayah Nordin, Habibah Ghazali
Summary: Third-generation solar cells, such as dye-sensitized solar cells and quantum dot-sensitized solar cells, require counter electrodes (CEs) for their functionality. Platinum-based CEs are dominant but expensive, thus alternative materials like transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been explored. This study provides a comprehensive review of the major components and working principles of these solar cells, and evaluates the performance efficiencies resulting from TMS-based CEs compared to Pt-based CEs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qiu Zhang, Yuekun Zhang, Tingting Zhang, Fengyan Li, Lin Xu
Summary: The challenge in enhancing the efficiency of QDSSCs lies in the development and design of cost-effective, stable, and efficient counter electrode catalysts for quick and efficient electron transport at the CE/electrolyte interface. This study creatively constructs Co9S8/Cu7S4 heterostructure composite CEs, using CuCo-Prussian blue analogs (PBA) as precursors, improving electron transfer efficiency and stability. The resulting Mn-CdS/CdSe/ZnS co-sensitized QDSSC equipped with the Co9S8/Cu7S4 heterostructure composite CE delivers significantly superior conversion efficiency compared to other CEs.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Ru Zhou, Xinnian Liu, Shiwang Zhang, Liangcheng Liu, Lei Wan, Huier Guo, Xi Yang, Zhen Cheng, Liusen Hu, Haihong Niu, Xiaoli Mao
Summary: CuSbS2 thin films as counter electrodes for QDSCs show promising performance and catalytic capability, offering a potential option for constructing highly efficient QDSCs.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xiaobo Chen, Yefei Zhuang, Qingyu Shen, Xiaoyu Cao, Wen Yang, Peizhi Yang
Summary: Using MXene/CoS as a high electrocatalytic counter electrode in QDSSCs significantly enhances cell performance, mainly due to the synergistic effects of the unique layered morphology of conductive MXene nanosheets and cocatalysis with CoS nanoparticles, providing abundant catalytic active sites.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aryal Krishna Prasad, In-Rok Jo, Soon-Hyung Kang, Kwang-Soon Ahn
Summary: A novel electrochemical method was used to synthesize rGO-Cu2S as a counter electrode for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cell applications. Compared to Pt and Cu2S counter electrodes, rGO-Cu2S displayed lower charge transfer resistance and higher electrocatalytic activity, leading to an improved power conversion efficiency in QDSSCs.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Akash S. Rasal, Ting-Wei Chang, Chiranjeevi Korupalli, Jia-Yaw Chang
Summary: This study successfully synthesized Cu2-xSySe1-y alloyed semiconductors film with tunable crystal structures, compositions, and morphologies as counter electrode materials, demonstrating excellent stability and high conversion efficiency in photovoltaic applications.
COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Aycan Atli, Abdullah Yildiz
Summary: An opaque platinum film as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells demonstrates enhanced reflectivity, smaller resistance, and excellent adhesion properties. As a result, the DSSC with the opaque platinum film achieves a higher electrical power conversion efficiency compared to the transparent platinum film under the same conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jagriti Tyagi, Himanshu Gupta, L. P. Purohit
Summary: Different photoanodes were prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive glass substrate using the doctor blade method, with CdS quantum dots deposited by SILAR. The ZnO/TiO2 photoanode achieved higher efficiency compared to bare TiO2 in the QDSSC, with improved electron transport and overall performance. The IPCE for ZnO/TiO2 electrode was approximately 46%, showing enhanced capabilities for photon-to-current conversion.
Article
Electrochemistry
Yiling Xie, Weinan Xue, Yuan Wang, Wei Zhu, Wei Wang, Yan Li
Summary: Cu@N-C composite materials synthesized through a facile pyrolysis method exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and conductivity, making them suitable for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells, resulting in cells with higher photovoltaic conversion efficiency.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Electrochemistry
Abdul Qayoom Mugheri, Shaista Khan, Ali Asghar Sangah, Aijaz Ahmed Bhutto, Muhammad Younis Laghari, Nadeem Ahmed Mugheri, Asif Ali Jamali, Arsalan Ahmed Mugheri, Nagji Sodho, Abdul Waheed Mastoi, Aftab Kandhro
Summary: Green hydrogen has the potential to transition to a pollution-free energy infrastructure. This study proposes a solution to produce hydrogen during the photoelectrochemical process, offering greater stability and control over chemical reactions. Techno-economic assessments show the efficiency and economic feasibility of co-producing value-added chemicals to enhance green hydrogen production.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Danpeng Cheng, Wuxin Sha, Qigao Han, Shun Tang, Jun Zhong, Jinqiao Du, Jie Tian, Yuan-Cheng Cao
Summary: LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (NCM) is a critical cathode material for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. The aging of cathode/electrolyte interfaces leads to capacity degradation and long-term cycle instability. A novel neural network model called ACGNet is developed to predict electrochemical stability windows of crystals, allowing for high-throughput screening of coating materials. LiPO3 is identified as a promising coating material with high oxidation voltage and low cost, which significantly improves the cycle stability of NCM batteries. This study demonstrates the accuracy and potential of machine learning in battery materials.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
P. Mohana, R. Yuvakkumar, G. Ravi, S. Arunmetha
Summary: This study successfully fabricates a non-noble CuO/NiO/rGO nanocomposite and investigates its electrocatalytic performance for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline environment. The experimental results demonstrate that the electrocatalyst exhibits high activity and good stability, offering a new synthetic approach for sustainable energy production.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Qiong Qu, Jing Guo, Hongyu Wang, Kai Zhang, Jingde Li
Summary: In this study, a bifunctional electrode host design consisting of carbon nanofibers implanted ordered porous Co-decorated Al2O3 supported on carbon nanotube film (CNTF) was proposed to address the shuttling effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and dendrite formation of metal lithium anode in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The electrode exhibited excellent conductivity, efficient confinement of LiPSs, and catalytic conversion performance, resulting in high initial capacity and good capacity retention during cycling. As an anode, the electrode showed excellent Li+ diffusion performance and uniform lithium growth behavior, achieving a dendrite-free lithium electrode. The flexible pack cell assembled from these electrodes delivered a specific capacity of 972 mAh g(-1) with good capacity retention.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Hong Zhang, Jin-Peng Yu, Chen Chen, Cheng-Yong Shu, Guang-Yu Xu, Jie Ren, Kai Cui, Wen-Fang Cai, Yun-Hai Wang, Kun Guo
Summary: Spray coating of acetylene black nanoparticles onto stainless steel mesh can enhance its biofilm formation ability and current density, making it a promising electrode material for microbial electrochemical systems. The spray coating method is simple, cost-effective, and suitable for large-size stainless steel electrodes.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Binpeng Hou, Jingjin Chen, Li-Hong Zhang, Xiaowen Shi, Zizhong Zhu
Summary: The electrochemical performance of Li1.20Mn0.44Ni0.32Co0.04O2 and its oxygen-deficient phase Li1.20Mn0.44Ni0.32Co0.04O1.83 was studied through first-principles calculations. The results show that the oxygen-deficient phase has a higher theoretical capacity but lower voltage platform and higher chemical activity compared to the pristine phase.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Yating Du, Sayoko Shironita, Daisuke Asakura, Eiji Hosono, Yoshitsugu Sone, Yugo Miseki, Eiichi Kobayashi, Minoru Umeda
Summary: This study investigates the effect of high- and low-temperature environments on the charge-discharge performance of a Li-ion battery. The deterioration mechanisms of the battery at different temperatures are analyzed through various characterization techniques. The results indicate that the battery performance deteriorates more significantly at a low-temperature environment of 5 degrees C compared to higher temperatures. The understanding of the deterioration mechanisms can contribute to the development of safer battery usage methods.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Si-Si Shi, Zhi-Xiang Yuan, Fei Zhang, Ping Chen
Summary: In this study, a new nano-electrocatalyst was prepared, which exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of NO2- to ammonia in a neutral electrolyte, potentially due to the synergistic enhancement between Co3O4-x and Co.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Berna Dalkiran, Havva Bekirog
Summary: This study reports the use of deep eutectic solvents (DES) based on ethylene glycol and urea as low-cost and green electrolytes for enhancing electrochemical detection of natural antioxidants. The study successfully developed a disposable and effective electrochemical sensing platform for simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA) and gallic acid (GA) using NaOH nanorods on a pencil graphite electrode. The proposed electrode showed improved analytical performance, with higher peak currents and shifted oxidation potentials in DES compared to BR buffer medium.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Sijun Ren, Jianguo Huang
Summary: In this study, a novel bio-inspired nanofibrous WO3/carbon composite was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method. The three-dimensional network structure of the composite alleviated the volume expansion of WO3 nanorods and enhanced the charge-transport kinetics. The optimized composite exhibited superior lithium storage properties.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Zhilong Zheng, Yu Chen, Hongxia Yin, Hengbo Xiao, Xiangji Zhou, Zhiwen Li, Ximin Li, Jin Chen, Songliu Yuan, Junjie Guo, Haibin Yu, Zhen Zhang, Lihua Qian
Summary: This study found that interstitial Zn cations in CoMoO4 can modulate the dissolution kinetics of Mo cations and improve the OER performance. The interstitial Zn cations can prevent the dissolution of Co cations at high potential, enhancing the durability of the catalyst.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Xiaobo Lin, Shern R. Tee, Debra J. Searles, Peter T. Cummings
Summary: Molecular dynamics simulations using the constant potential method were used to investigate the charging dynamics and charge storage of supercapacitors. The simulations revealed that the water-in-salt electrolyte exhibited the highest charge storage and significantly higher capacitance on the negative electrode. The varying contributions of different electrode regions to supercapacitor performance were also demonstrated.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Wiktoria Lipinska, Vita Saska, Katarzyna Siuzdak, Jakub Karczewski, Karol Zaleski, Emerson Coy, Anne de Poulpiquet, Ievgen Mazurenko, Elisabeth Lojou
Summary: The spatial distribution of enzymes on electrodes is important for bioelectrocatalysis. In this study, controlled spatial distribution of gold nanoparticles on Ti nanodimples was achieved. The efficiency of enzymatic O2 reduction was found to be influenced by the size of the gold nanoparticles and their colocalization with TiO2. The highest stability of enzymatic current was observed with the largest gold nanoparticles.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Tariq M. Al-Hejri, Zeenat A. Shaikh, Ahmed H. Al-Naggar, Siddheshwar D. Raut, Tabassum Siddiqui, Hamdan M. Danamah, Vijaykumar V. Jadhav, Abdullah M. Al-Enizi, Rajaram S. Mane
Summary: This study explores a promising self-growth approach for the synthesis of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) nanosponge-balls on the surface of a nickel-foam (NiF) electrode. The modified NiF electrode, named Ni(OH)2@NiF, shows distinctive nanosponge-ball morphology and demonstrates excellent energy storage capability and electrocatalytic performance in both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)
Article
Electrochemistry
Rafael Del Olmo, Gregorio Guzman-Gonzalez, Oihane Sanz, Maria Forsyth, Nerea Casado
Summary: The use of Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) is becoming increasingly extensive, and it is important to optimize the devices to achieve their maximum practical specific capacity. In this study, mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) binders based on PEDOT:PSS and PEDOT: PDADMA-TFSI were developed for Li-ion cathodes, and their performance was compared with conventional formulations. The influence of electrode formulations, including the addition of conducting carbon and an Organic Ionic Plastic Cristal (OIPC), was also analyzed. The proposed binders showed improved performance compared to conventional formulations with different electrolyte types and active materials.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2024)