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Quantum DotSensitized Solar Cells Featuring CuS/CoS
Electrodes Provide 4.1% Efficiency
Zusing Yang, Chia-Ying Chen, Chi-Wei Liu, Chi-Lin Li, and Huan-Tsung Chang,*
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S2 + h+ S (1)
S + S2 Sx 2 (2)
Figure 3 displays potentiostatic current density-voltage
(JV) plots of the four counter electrodes used in this study.
The greater the current density, the higher the electrocata-
lytic activity of the electrode.[16,17] The electrocatalytic activi-
ties of the CuS, CoS, and CuS/CoS electrodes were close
(1.9 2.2 mA cm2 at 0.9 V), with all of them greater (by an
order of magnitude) than that of the Pt electrode (0.9 mA cm2
at 0.9 V). Although the CuS/CoS and CoS electrodes both had
the CoS NPs that were directly contacted with the electrolyte,
their morphologies were different, mainly due to the CoS NPs
were deposited on CuS film and FTO substrate, respectively. As
a result, their electrocatalytic activities were slightly different.
Figure 4 presents the dark JV characteristics of QDSSCs incor-
Figure 1. SEM micrographs of A) the FTO glass substrate and BD) the porating one of the four counter electrodes. At a high forward
B) CuS, C) CoS, and D) CuS/CoS counter electrodes. bias (>0.2 V), the CuS, CoS, and CuS/CoS electrodes provided
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Figure 3. Potentiostatic JV plots of the A) Pt, B) CuS, C) CoS, and Figure 5. Nyquist (impedance) plots of A) Pt-catalyzed, B) CuS-catalyzed,
D) CuS/CoS different electrodes. C) CoS-catalyzed, and D) CuS/CoS-catalyzed FTO symmetric cells con-
taining polysulfide redox electrolyte. Device area: 0.8 cm2. Z and Z are
the virtual and real impedances, respectively.
Adv. Energy Mater. 2011, 1, 259264 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim wileyonlinelibrary.com 261
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Rs =RTCO +Rct +Rdiff (3) Figure 8. IPCE spectrum of the CdS/CdSe QDSSC featuring a CuS/
CoS counter electrode. Polysulfide electrolyte: 2.0 M Na2S, 0.5 M S, and
where RTCO and Rdiff are the substrate resistance and diffu- 0.2 M KCl in methanol/water (7:3, v/v).
sion impedance, respectively.[18,23] An excessive value of Rs can
suppress the photocurrent (Isc) under short-circuit conditions,
according to the equation:[18,23]
We further conducted IPCE measurement of a CdS/CdSe
Is c = I ph I0 [( q ISC Rs ) nkT) 1] ISC Rs I RSh (4) QDSSC featuring the CuS/CoS electrodes (Figure 8). Its max-
imum IPCE value was 72.2% at 525 nm.[5,8] A JSC value from
where Iph and I0 are the photocurrent and reverse saturation IPCE spectrum was calculated using the following equation:[27]
current, respectively, n is the ideality factor, and Rsh is theshunt
resistance.[23] From the EIS data, the values of RTCO for the
sulfide electrodes decreased in the order: CuS (30.98 cm2) > J SC = q F(8)IPCE(8)d8 (5)
CoS (26.87 cm2) > CuS/CoS (21.05 cm2). A QDSSC with
an electrode having a greater Rs value provides smaller JSC where q is the electron charge and F() is the incident photon
values. High reflectivity values of the CoS, CuS, and CuS/CoS flux of the solar light. The value of calculated JSC using
electrodes were also advantageous to provide greater light har- the maximum IPCE value and AM 1.5 photon flux was ca.
vestings that resulted in such high values of JSC (Figure 7).[25,26] 15 mA cm2, which is smaller than that of the measured JSC
From the reflectance spectra, we estimated the reflectivities of value (17.11 mA cm2). The higher JSC obtained from our JV
the Pt, CuS, CoS, and CuS/CoS electrodes to be 4.9, 8.0, 29.1 measurement was due to two facts: i) IPCE measurements
and 36.8% at 525 nm, respectively, revealing high reflectivity of were performed at low monochromatic light intensities; charge
the CuS/CoS electrode for generating high JSC values. separation and collection are more efficient at high illumina-
tion intensity, and ii) high reflectivity (36.8% at 525 nm) of a
CuS/CoS electrode provided additional light harvesting of the
CdS/CdSe photoelectrode, leading to increased .[26,27]
The degree of adhesion of the electrocatalytic active mate-
rials onto the FTO substrate used as the counter electrode is
another very important factor for determining the values of
of QDSSCs.[18] If the materials do not stick to the FTO sub-
strate, they may be released into the electrolyte, thereby gradu-
ally decreasing the value of JSC. Relative to CuS electrode (poor
adhesion), CoS electrodes made from CoS NPs are preferable
counter electrodes for long-term use in polysulfide electrolyte,
mainly because of their mechanical stability (good adhesion).[16]
Under continuous sunlight illumination, the CuS/CoS elec-
trode exhibited superior stability in polysulfide electrolyte (
remained greater than 97% after 20 scan cycles), which is more
stable than that (>96% after three scan cycles) obtained from
a QDSSC featuring a CuS electrode.[16] By taking advantage of
the lower value of Rs provided by the CoS NPs and the lower
value of Rct provided by the CuS materials, three QDSSCs each
incorporating the CuS/CoS electrode with higher reflectance
Figure 7. Reflectance spectra of the A) Pt, B) CuS, C) CoS, and D) CuS/ provided values of of 4.1 0.2% that was considerably higher
CoS electrodes. than those (3.3 0.3 and 3.8 0.2%; each obtained from three
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QDSSCs) of the QDSSCs featuring CuS and CoS electrodes, Preparation of CuS and CuS/CoS counter electrodes: A CBD method was
respectively). used to prepare CuS counter electrodes on FTO glass substrates. Briefly,
an FTO glass substrate was dipped into 0.5 M aqueous Cu(NO3)2 for
30 s, rinsed with ethanol, dried with an air gun, dipped for another 30 s
into 0.5 M aqueous Na2S, rinsed with ethanol, and then dried with an
3. Conclusions air gun. This process was repeated up to three times. The as-prepared
electrodes are represented herein as CuS counter electrodes. The CuS/
We have employed CuS, CoS, and CuS/CoS counter elec- CoS electrodes were prepared through deposition of the CoS NPs onto
trodes in the fabrication of CdS/CdSe QDSSCs. When using the surfaces of the CuS counter electrodes. One drop (ca. 0.1 mL) of
a polysulfide electrolyte in the QDSSCs, these three electrodes the as-prepared CoS NPs paste was placed onto the surface of the CuS
provided greater electrocatalytic activity, higher reflectivity, and counter electrode and dried at 100 C for 10 min.
Preparation of Pt counter electrodes: Briefly, PVP (0.14 g) was mixed
lower Rs relative to those provided by a Pt electrode. We took with 0.01 M H2PtCl6.H2O in 50 mL of ethylene glycol. The solution was
advantage of the lower value of RTCO provided by CoS NPs and then heated to 160 C for 2 h. The color of solution changed to black
the lower value of Rct provided by CuS materials to fabricate indicated the formation of Pt NPs (ca. 5 nm in diameter).[29] After cooling
CuS/CoS counter electrodes. With their low cost and simplicity, down to room temperature, the as-resulting solution was subjected to
we believe that such QDSSCs have great potential for use in three centrifugation/wash cycles (15000 rpm for 10 min; 1.5-mL ethanol
next-generation solar cells. for wash). The black precipitate was dispersed and stored in ethanol
prior to the use. Counter electrodes were then prepared by dropping an
ethanol solution of Pt NPs onto FTO glass substrates. After drying at
100 C for 30 min, the Pt NPs-coated counter electrodes were sintered at
450 C for 30 min.[17,28,29]
4. Experimental Section Assembly of CdS/CdSe QDSSCs: A QDSSC (active area: 1 cm2)
Materials: Commercially available P-25 TiO2 powders (Degussa), was assembled according to the following procedure.[17,28] The CdS/
cadmium nitrate, cobalt nitrate, selenium power, zinc sulfate, sodium CdSe/ZnS photoelectrode and a counter electrode were sandwiched
sulfide, hydrogen hexachloroplatinate(IV), thioacetamide, ethylene between a 20-m-thick hot-melt ionomer film (Surlyn) under heating
glycol, 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA), potassium chloride, sodium (100 C, 30 min). An electrolyte of 2.0 M Na2S, 0.5 M S, and 0.2 M KCl
hydroxide, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP, Mw 55,000), polyethylene glycol in methanol/water (7:3, v/v) was used in the as-prepared CdS/CdSe
(Mw 5,000), methyl cellulose, sulfur, and methanol were purchased from QDSSCs.
SigmaAldrich (Milwaukee, WI, USA). Measurements: Reflection absorption spectra of the as-prepared
Preparation of TiO2 films: Porous TiO2 films were fabricated from electrodes were recorded using a Cary 100 UVVis spectrophotometer
P-25 TiO2 NPs (ca. 20 nm in diameter).[17,28] First, HNO3 was adsorbed from Varian (Palo Alto, CA). SEM images were recorded using an
onto the TiO2 surface (TiO2/NO3) while heating (80 C, 8 h). A coating S-2400 SEM system from Hitachi (Tokyo, Japan). HR-TEM images
phase was prepared by mixing TiO2/NO3 (0.6 g), polyethylene glycol were recorded using a Philips/FEI Tecnai 20 G2 S-Twin TEM system
(0.18 g), and methyl cellulose (0.06 g) in ultrapure H2O (3 mL). A TiO2 (GCEMarket, Inc., NJ, USA). Potentiostatic currentvoltage (IV)
film was cast by spreading the TiO2 paste onto a transparent fluorine- curves were recorded using a CHI 660A electrochemical analyzer (CH
doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate having a resistance 9 sq1. The Instruments, Austin, TX). IV measurements were performed using a
electrode presenting the air-dried TiO2 film was then annealed at 450 C three-electrode system: a CuS/CoS electrode as a working electrode, a
for 30 min. The thickness of the TiO2 film was about 20 m.[17,28] Pt counter electrode, and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. A CHI 614D
Preparation of photoelectrodes: Chemical bath deposition (CBD) was electrochemical impedance spectrometer (CH Instruments, Austin, TX)
used to assemble the QDs into the TiO2 film as described previously.[5,17] was employed to determine the charge-transfer resistance between the
A TiO2 film was dipped into 0.5 M aqueous Cd(NO3)2 for 5 min, rinsed electrode and the electrolyte. The irradiation source for determining the
with water, dried with an air gun, dipped for another 5 min into a 0.5 M photocurrent densityvoltage (JV) characteristics was a 450-W xenon
aqueous Na2S, rinsed with water, and then dried with an air gun. This arc lamp (Oriel, Stratford, CT) equipped with an AM 1.5 filter. A Keithley
two-step dipping procedure defines one CBD cycle. The process was 2400 digital source meter (Test Equipment Connection, Lake Mary, FL)
repeated up to three times. The as-prepared electrodes are represented was used to record the JV curves of the as-prepared QDSSCs. A metal
herein as TiO2-(CdS)3 electrodes. The average diameter of the CdS mask with an area of 0.126 cm2 was placed in front of the QDSSCs to
particles on the TiO2 films was estimated to be ca. 4 nm from the confine their effective illumination area. A commercial available silicon
absorption spectrum.[5,17] The TiO2-(CdS)3 electrodes were dipped into based reference cell (Oriel, Stratford, CT) was employed to confirm
a solution of 0.5 M Cd(NO3)2 for 5 min and then immersed into 0.08 M the light intensity (100 mA cm2). All of the JV measurements were
aqueous Na2SeSO3 for 1 h at 50 C. The process was repeated up to two recorded after at least 10 reproducible cycles to ensure no change in the
times. The as-prepared electrodes are represented herein as TiO2-(CdS)3- JV curves. The incident-photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) spectra were
(CdSe)2 electrodes. The average diameter of the CdSe particles on the recorded using a PEC-S20 instrument (Peccell Technologies, Kanagawa,
TiO2 films was estimated to be ca. 6 nm.[5,17] The TiO2-(CdS)3-(CdSe)2 Japan).
electrodes were immersed into 0.5 M Zn(NO3)2 for 5 min, rinsed with
ultrapure H2O, and dried with an air gun. They were then dipped for
5 min into 0.5 M aqueous Na2S, rinsed with ultrapure H2O, and dried
with an air gun to obtain TiO2-(CdS)3-(CdSe)2-ZnS electrodes. Acknowledgements
Preparation of CoS counter electrodes: Briefly, Co(NO3)2 (0.24 g) and
thioacetamide (0.255 g) were added to 38 mM aqueous 3-MPA (pH 11.2, We thank the National Science Council, Taiwan, for financial support
74.8 mL). The resulting solution was heated at 100 C for 30 min. The (NSC 982113-M-002011-MY3, 992627-M-002016, 992627-M-
instant color change to black indicated the formation of CoS NPs. The 002017). Z.Y. thanks the National Taiwan University for the support
resulting CoS NPs in aqueous solution (1 mL) were precipitated upon of a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Chemistry, National
the addition of ethanol (0.5 mL) and isolated through centrifugation Taiwan University.
(10,000 rpm, 10 min). The black precipitate was dispersed and stored
in ethanol (4 mL) as a CoS paste. A drop of CoS paste (ca. 0.1 mL) was Received: November 16, 2010
applied to the FTO glass substrate and dried in an oven at 100 C for Revised: December 13, 2010
10 min to obtain a CoS counter electrode. Published online: January 20, 2011
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