文献类型：期刊文献

英文题名：Rational screening low-cost counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

作者：Hou, Yu[1];Wang, Dong[2];Yang, Xiao Hua[1];Fang, Wen Qi[1];Zhang, Bo[1,3];Wang, Hai Feng[2];Lu, Guan Zhong[2];Hu, P.[2,4];Zhao, Hui Jun[5];Yang, Hua Gui[1,5]

机构：[1]E China Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Mat Sci & Engn, Minist Educ, Key Lab Ultrafine Mat, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China;[2]E China Univ Sci & Technol, Res Inst Ind Catalysis, Labs Adv Mat, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China;[3]E China Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Phys, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China;[4]Queens Univ Belfast, Sch Chem & Chem Engn, Belfast BT9 5AG, Antrim, North Ireland;[5]Griffith Univ, Ctr Clean Environm & Energy, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia

年份：2013

卷号：4

外文期刊名：NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

收录：;WOS:【SCI-EXPANDED(收录号:WOS:000318873900037)】；

基金：This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20973059, 91022023, 21076076 and 21203061), Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning, Shanghai Municipal Natural Science Foundation (12ZR1407500), Major Basic Research Programme of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (10JC1403200), Australian Research Council's Future Fellowships (FT120100913) and Commission of Science and Technology of Shanghai Municipality (12ZR1442600). P. H. thanks the Chinese Government for the 'Thousands Talents' program.

语种：英文

摘要：Dye-sensitized solar cells have attracted intense research attention owing to their ease of fabrication, cost-effectiveness and high efficiency in converting solar energy. Noble platinum is generally used as catalytic counter electrode for redox mediators in electrolyte solution. Unfortunately, platinum is expensive and non-sustainable for long-term applications. Therefore, researchers are facing with the challenge of developing low-cost and earth-abundant alternatives. So far, rational screening of non-platinum counter electrodes has been hamstrung by the lack of understanding about the electrocatalytic process of redox mediators on various counter electrodes. Here, using first-principle quantum chemical calculations, we studied the electrocatalytic process of redox mediators and predicted electrocatalytic activity of potential semiconductor counter electrodes. On the basis of theoretical predictions, we successfully used rust (alpha-Fe2O3) as a new counter electrode catalyst, which demonstrates promising electrocatalytic activity towards triiodide reduction at a rate comparable to platinum.