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Carbon nitride transparent counter electrode prepared by magnetron sputtering for a dye-sensitized solar cell

2017; KeAi; Volume: 2; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.gee.2017.06.002

2096-2797

Chaoyu Wu, Guo‐Ran Li, Xueqin Cao, Lei Bao, Xueping Gao,

ZnO doping and properties

Carbon nitride (CN x ) films supported on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass are prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering, in which the film thicknesses are 90–100 nm, and the element components in the CN x films are in the range of x = 0.15–0.25. The as-prepared CN x is for the first time used as counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and show a preparation-temperature dependent electrochemical performance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrates that there is a higher proportion of sp 2 C C and sp 3 C N hybridized bonds in CN x -500 (the sample treated at 500 °C) than in CN x -RT (the sample without a heat treatment). It is proposed that the sp 2 C C and sp 3 C–N hybridized bonds in the CN x films are helpful for improving the electrocatalytic activities in DSSCs. Meanwhile, Raman spectra also prove that CN x -500 has a relatively high graphitization level that means an increasing electrical conductivity. This further explains why the sample after the heat treatment has a higher electrochemical performance in DSSCs. In addition, the as-prepared CN x counter electrodes have a good light transmittance in the visible light region. The results are meaningful for developing low-cost metal-free transparent counter electrodes for DSSCs. Magnetron sputtered transparent carbon nitride is used as counter electrode in DSSCs, and the electrochemical performance and light transmittance is controllable by preparation temperature.