title: Preparation of nitrogen-doped TiO₂/graphene nanohybrids and application as counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: The preparation of nitrogen-doped TiO2/graphene nanohybrids and their application as counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) are presented. These nanohybrids are prepared by self-assembly of pyrene modified H2Ti3O7 nanosheets and graphene in aqueous medium via π-π stacking interactions, followed by thermal calcination at different temperatures in ammonia atmosphere to afford nitrogen-doped TiO2/graphene nanohybrids. H2Ti3O7 nanosheets were synthesized from TiOSO4·xH2O by a hydrothermal reaction at 150 °C for 48 h. The microstructure of the obtained mixed-phase nanohybrids was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, the performances of the as-prepared nanohybrids as counter electrode materials for DSSC was investigated, and the results indicated that the nanohybrids prepared at higher nitridation temperature would lead to higher short-circuit current density than those prepared at lower nitridation temperature, indicating that it can be utilized as a low-cost alternative to Pt for DSSCs and other applications.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Chemical and Environmental Engineering; Laboratory of Fiber Materials and Modern Textile, the Growing Base for State Key Laboratory, Qingdao University , Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qingduan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yanzhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Jingquan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dongjiang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ziyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yao