Copper indium disulfide nanocrystals supported on carbonized chicken eggshell membranes as efficient counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells
Abstract
A domestic waste, chicken eggshell membrane (ESM), is used as a raw material to fabricate carbonized ESM loaded with chalcopyrite CuInS2 nanocrystals (denoted CESM-CuInS2) by a simple liquid impregnation and carbonization method. The CESM-CuInS2 composite possesses a natural three-dimensional macroporous network structure in which numerous CuInS2 nanocrystals with a size of about 25 nm are inlaid in carbon submicron fibers that form a microporous network. The CESM-CuInS2 composite is used as the counter electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and its photoelectric performance is tested. The DSSC with a CESM-CuInS2 counter electrode exhibits a short-circuit current density of 12.48 mA cm-2, open-circuit voltage of 0.78 V and power conversion efficiency of 5.8%; better than the corresponding values for a DSSC with a CESM counter electrode, and comparable to that of a reference DSSC with a platinum counter electrode. The favorable photoelectric performance of the CESM-CuInS2 counter electrode is attributed to its hierarchical structure, which provides a large specific surface area and numerous catalytically active sites to facilitate the oxidation of the electrolyte. This new composite material has many advantages, such as low cost and simple preparation, compared with Pt and pure CuInS2 counter electrodes.
- Publication:
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Journal of Power Sources
- Pub Date:
- May 2016
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.03.029
- Bibcode:
- 2016JPS...315...79W
- Keywords:
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- Carbonized eggshell membrane;
- Copper indium disulfide nanocrystals;
- Counter electrode;
- Dye-sensitized solar cells;
- Conversion efficiency