title: In situ synthesis of NiS nanowall networks on Ni foam as a TCO-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Nickel sulfide (NiS) nanowall networks have been prepared by a novel one-step hydrothermal method on a nickel (Ni) foam substrate. The Ni foam has a high conductivity and porous structure. To our knowledge, the Ni foam is used as a conductive substrate for the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) for the first time. The Ni foam is used as not only the conductive substrate but also the Ni sources of the reaction. The Ni foam supported NiS prepared by this simple hydrothermal method shows high catalytic activity for reduction of triiodide ions. The DSSC with a transparent conductive oxide (TCO)-free NiS counter electrode (CE) was herein developed and showed a higher power conversion efficiency of 8.55% than that with a TCO supported NiS CE (7.47%) and a TCO supported platinum CE (7.99%).
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education of China, Department of Electronic Science and Technology, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weijun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Guojia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Pingli
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xingzhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao