title: Electrospun TiC/C nano-felt surface-decorated with Pt nanoparticles as highly efficient and cost-effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Electrospun nano-felt consisting of overlaid TiC/C composite nanofibers was surface-decorated with Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) for use as highly efficient and cost-effective counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In the nanofibers, the self-generated TiC crystallites (~70 wt%) with sizes of ~20 nm were randomly embedded in carbon (~30 wt%). Upon surface-decoration, most Pt NPs were distributed on TiC crystallites, leading to substantial enhancement in the electrocatalytic activity/efficiency of Pt due to the strong interaction between Pt and TiC as well as the resulting synergetic effect on electrocatalysis. Electrochemical measurements indicated that the TiC/C-Pt CE exhibited low charge transfer resistance (Rct), large capacitance (C), and fast reaction rate towards the reduction of I3(-) ions, and the prototype DSSC exhibited a performance comparable to that with conventional Pt CE in terms of short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and energy conversion efficiency (η).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 East Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA. Hao.Fong@sdsmt.edu.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thapa
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Qiquan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry; D012993:Solar Energy; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; C096521:titanium carbide; D014025:Titanium