The Two-Dimensional Nanocomposite of Molybdenum Disulfide and Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Oxide for Efficient Counter Electrode of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

In this study, we reported the synthesis of the two-dimensional (2D) nanocomposite of molybdenum disulfide and nitrogen-doped graphene oxide (MoS2/nGO) as a platinum-free counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Raman spectroscopy were used to examine the characteristics of the 2D nanocomposite of MoS2/nGO. The cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS), and the Tafel polarization measurements were carried out to examine the electrocatalytic abilities.

Enhanced Electrochemical Catalytic Efficiencies of Electrochemically Deposited Platinum Nanocubes as a Counter Electrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Platinum nanocubes (PtNCs) were deposited onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide glass by electrochemical deposition (ECD) method and utilized as a counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this study, we controlled the growth of the crystalline plane to synthesize the single-crystal PtNCs at room temperature. The morphologies and crystalline nanostructure of the ECD PtNCs were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

Low-Temperature Thermally Reduced Molybdenum Disulfide as a Pt-Free Counter Electrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

A two-dimensional nanostructure of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) thin film exposed layered nanosheet was prepared by a low-temperature thermally reduced (TR) method on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate as a platinum (Pt)-free and highly electrocatalytic counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results show that the MoS2 sulfidization temperature was approximately 300 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicate that the stoichiometry and crystallization of MoS2 were more complete at higher temperatures; however, these temperatures reduce the number of edge-plane active sites in the short-range-order nanostructure.

Direct synthesis of platelet graphitic-nanofibres as a highly porous counter-electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells.

We synthesized platelet graphitic-nanofibres (GNFs) directly onto FTO glass and applied this forest of platelet GNFs as a highly porous structural counter-electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We investigated the electrochemical properties of counter-electrodes made from the highly porous structural GNFs and the photoconversion performance of the cells made with these electrodes.

A hybrid nanostructure of platinum-nanoparticles/graphitic-nanofibers as a three-dimensional counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells.

We directly synthesized a platinum-nanoparticles/graphitic-nanofibers (PtNPs/GNFs) hybrid nanostructure on FTO glass. We applied this structure as a three-dimensional counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and investigated the cells' photoconversion performance.

Highly efficient restoration of graphitic structure in graphene oxide using alcohol vapors.

Solution-based processes involving the chemical oxidation of graphite and reduction of the obtained graphene oxide (GO) sheets have attracted much attention for preparing graphene films for printed electronics and biosensors. However, the low electrical conductivity of reduced GO is still hindering the development of electronic applications. This article presents that GO sheets reduced by high-temperature alcohol vapors exhibit highly graphitic structures and excellent electrical conductivity.

Preparation and properties of a carbon nanotube-based nanocomposite photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells.

This study fabricates dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on TiO(2)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposite photoanodes obtained by the modified acid-catalyzed sol-gel procedure. Results show that incorporating MWCNTs into a TiO(2)-based electrode efficiently improves the physicochemical properties of the solar cell. The results of dye adsorption and cell performance measurements indicate that introducing MWCNTs would improve the roughness factor (from 834 to 1267) of the electrode and the charge recombination of electron/hole (e(-)/h(+)) pairs.

Low temperature synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes in an inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition system.

In this work, we present a parametric study on the low temperature synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) CVD system using dry bi-layered catalytic thin-films (Fe/Al and Ni/Al, deposited by electron-beam evaporation method) as the catalysts. With a low substrate temperature of 550 degrees C and above, SWNTs were successfully synthesized on both catalysts, as revealed from the characteristic peaks of SWNTs in the micro-Raman spectra. By the reduction of plasma power and the shortening of the process times, the lowest synthesis temperature of SWNTs achieved in our system was approached to 500 degrees C on Ni/Al catalysts; on the other hands, the lowest temperature for Fe/Al catalysts was 550 degrees C.

Direct synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes selectively suspended on tips of vertically aligned silicon nanostructures fabricated by hydrogen plasma etching.

Here we present a method to synthesize single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) selectively suspended on tips of silicon-based nanostructure (Si-ns) templates. The Si-ns templates vertically aligned to the substrates are fabricated via an anisotropic etch process using reactive hydrogen plasmas, in which the etch-resistive nanomasks are the nanosized particles formed by thermal annealing of multi-layered catalytic thin films. After plasma etching, the nanosized self-masks remaining at the tips of the Si-ns directly serve as the catalysts for SWNT growth by thermal chemical vapour deposition.