The effect of transition metal ions (M^(2+)=Mn^(2+),Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),Cu^(2+)) on the chemical synthesis polyaniline as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

The effect of transition metal ions(M^(2+)=Mn^(2+),Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),Cu^(2+)) on the chemical synthesis of polyaniline(PANI) used as a platinum-free counter electrode(CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSCs) was investigated.PANI was synthesized by co-polymerization of aniline in the presence of different transition metal ions by using potassium dichromate in acidic medium. It was found that the ion doping of PANI showed a certain catalytic activity for the regeneration of traditional iodide/triiodide(I^-/I_3^-) redox couples. The power conversion efficiency(η) of PANI CEs doped with Mn^(2+),Ni^(2+),Co^(2+) (4.41%, 2.36% and 2.10%, respectively) were higher than 1.94%, the value measured for PANI CE without doping. Doping with Cu^(2+)decreased the power conversion efficiency of PANI CE(PANI-Cu^(2+) η = 1.41%). The electrical properties of the PANI, PANI-Ni^(2+), PANI-Co^(2+),PANI-Mn^(2+) and PANI-Cu^(2+) were studied by cyclic voltammetry(CV), impedance(EIS), and Tafel polarization curve. The experimental results confirmed that PANI was affected by the doping of different transition metal ions(M^(2+)=Mn^(2+),Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),Cu^(2+)). These results indicate a potential application of ion doped PANI as counter electrode in cost-effective DSSCs.

Review on transition metal compounds based counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Commercial application of the dye-sensitized solar cells（DSCs） depends on great improvement of the power conversion efficiency and reduction of the fabrication cost. Generally, developing low cost counter electrode catalysts to replace the expensive Pt counter electrode is a feasible path to reduce the production cost of DSCs. In this review article, we summarize the recent progress on the transition metal compound based counter electrode catalysts containing carbides, nitrides, oxides, sulfides, phosphide, selenides, borides, silicide, and telluride toward the regeneration of the traditional iodide redox couple.Moreover, the benefits and drawbacks of each kind of CE catalyst are discussed and the research directions to design new counter electrode catalysts in future research are also proposed.

Synthesis of La_2MoO_6@MWCNTs composite catalysts as Pt-free counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cell

Pt-free counter electrode(CE) composed of La2 MoO(LaO-MoO) was successfully synthesized by simple pyrolysis of lanthanum acetate(CHOLa·xHO) and hexaammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate((NH4)6 MoO·4 HO). Furthermore,three proportions composites catalysts of La2 MoO@MWCNTs based on La2 MoOand multiwall carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) were prepared and characterized as Ptfree catalyst for CE in dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSCs). The morphology and structure of La2 MoO@MWCNTs composites were determined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical performance of La2 MoO@MWCNTs composite catalysts for CEs was determined by photocurrent-voltage measurements, cyclic voltammetry,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel polarization. The power conversion efficiencies of4.68%, 4.87% and 5.06% are obtained for La2 MoO:MWCNTs with the mass ratios of 5:1, 3:1 and 1:1 towards the reduction of I~-to I~-under the same conditions,respectively,which are superior to those of MWCNTs(3,94%) and La2 MoO(1.71%) electrodes. The experimental results reveal that the presence of MWCNTs results in an augmented active catalytic surface area and enhanced charge transfer from CE to the electrolyte.

Study on the reaction of 3-methyl-2-butenal and 3-methylbutanal with Cl atoms: kinetics and reaction mechanism

The reaction of Cl atoms with two C5aldehydes(3-methyl-2-butenal and 3-methylbutanal)were investigated by proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrum(PTR-MS)using smog chamber at 298±1 K and 760 Torr.A relative rate method was used to determine the rate constants of the title reactions with m-xylene and trans-2-butene as reference compounds:(3.04±0.18)×10^(-10)and(2.07±0.14)×10^(-10)cm^(3)/(molecule·sec)for 3-methyl-2-butenal and 3-methylbutanal,respectively.Additionally,the gas-phase products were also identified by PTR-MS,and the possible reaction mechanisms were proposed basing on the identified products.The detected gas-phase products are similar for two C5aldehydes reactions,mainly including small molecules of aldehydes,ketones and chlorinated aldehyde compounds.The atmospheric lifetimes(τ)calculated for 3-methyl-2-butenal(τ=7.0 hr,marine boundary layer(MBL))and 3-methylbutanal(τ=10.3 hr,MBL)according to the obtained rate constants.The results indicate that Cl atoms at MBL are competitive with OH radicals for the degradation contribution of C5aldehyde compounds.