title: Reactively sputtered nickel nitride as electrocatalytic counter electrode for dye- and quantum dot-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: Nickel nitride electrodes were prepared by reactive sputtering of nickel under a N2 atmosphere at room temperature for application in mesoscopic dye- or quantum dot- sensitized solar cells. This facile and reliable method led to the formation of a Ni2N film with a cauliflower-like nanostructure and tetrahedral crystal lattice. The prepared nickel nitride electrodes exhibited an excellent chemical stability toward both iodide and polysulfide redox electrolytes. Compared to conventional Pt electrodes, the nickel nitride electrodes showed an inferior electrocatalytic activity for the iodide redox electrolyte; however, it displayed a considerably superior electrocatalytic activity for the polysulfide redox electrolyte. As a result, compared to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), with a conversion efficiency (η) = 7.62%, and CdSe-based quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs, η = 2.01%) employing Pt counter electrodes (CEs), the nickel nitride CEs exhibited a lower conversion efficiency (η = 3.75%) when applied to DSCs, but an enhanced conversion efficiency (η = 2.80%) when applied to CdSe-based QDSCs.
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea [2] School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soo Kang
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Nanomaterials Science and Engineering, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-350, Republic of Korea [2] Photo-electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Ah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Photo-electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Yup
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Samsung SDI Materials Devision, OLED Development Group 1, Uiwang 437-711, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ha Park
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea [2] School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Young Chung
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea [2] School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea [2] School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Photo-electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jongwoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea [2] School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea [2] School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jae Lee
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea [2] School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Juwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: 1] Photo-electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea [2] Green School, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea [3] KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jae Ko
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Soon
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea [2] School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yung-Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Sung