Sulfur-doped graphene with iron pyrite (FeS 2 ) as an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for the iodine reduction reaction in dye-sensitized solar cells

As an alternative to platinum (Pt), hybrid electrocatalysts based on sulfur-doped graphene with FeS2 microspheres (SGN-FeS2) were used as a counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Benefiting from the high conductivity of SGN and excellent electrocatalytic activity of the FeS2, the bifunctional hybrid electrocatalyst-based device displays a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.1%, which is comparable to that (8.3%) of traditional Pt CE-based DSSC, while also exhibiting excellent stability in ambient conditions. These characteristics, in addition to its low-cost and facile preparation, make the SGN–FeS2 hybrid an ideal CE material for DSSCs

Back cover: Solar RRL 3-4∕2017

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were first reported almost thirty years ago and considerable efforts have gone into improving every component in that time. Despite all these efforts, the improvements from the early designs have been marginal and there are still considerable issues to overcome. One such issue is the use of platinum (Pt) as the counter electrode due to its expense and catalytic properties. Here, Batmunkh et al. (Article No. 1700011) used hybrid electrocatalysts based on sulfur-doped graphene with FeS2 microspheres (SGN-FeS2) as a counter electrode (CE) in DSSCs, instead of Pt. Because of the high conductivity of SGN and excellent electrocatalytic activity of the FeS2, the bifunctional hybrid electrocatalyst based device displays a power conversion effi ciency (PCE) comparable to that of traditional Pt CE based DSSC, while also exhibiting excellent stability in ambient conditions. These characteristics, in addition to the fact that the new hybrid is relatively cheap and easy to prepare, mean the SGN-FeS2 hybrid is an ideal CE material for DSSCs

Back cover: Solar RRL 3-4∕2017

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were first reported almost thirty years ago and considerable efforts have gone into improving every component in that time. Despite all these efforts, the improvements from the early designs have been marginal and there are still considerable issues to overcome. One such issue is the use of platinum (Pt) as the counter electrode due to its expense and catalytic properties. Here, Batmunkh et al. (Article No. 1700011) used hybrid electrocatalysts based on sulfur-doped graphene with FeS2 microspheres (SGN-FeS2) as a counter electrode (CE) in DSSCs, instead of Pt. Because of the high conductivity of SGN and excellent electrocatalytic activity of the FeS2, the bifunctional hybrid electrocatalyst based device displays a power conversion effi ciency (PCE) comparable to that of traditional Pt CE based DSSC, while also exhibiting excellent stability in ambient conditions. These characteristics, in addition to the fact that the new hybrid is relatively cheap and easy to prepare, mean the SGN-FeS2 hybrid is an ideal CE material for DSSCs

Sulfur-doped graphene with iron pyrite (FeS 2 ) as an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for the iodine reduction reaction in dye-sensitized solar cells

As an alternative to platinum (Pt), hybrid electrocatalysts based on sulfur-doped graphene with FeS2 microspheres (SGN-FeS2) were used as a counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Benefiting from the high conductivity of SGN and excellent electrocatalytic activity of the FeS2, the bifunctional hybrid electrocatalyst-based device displays a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.1%, which is comparable to that (8.3%) of traditional Pt CE-based DSSC, while also exhibiting excellent stability in ambient conditions. These characteristics, in addition to its low-cost and facile preparation, make the SGN–FeS2 hybrid an ideal CE material for DSSCs

One-Step Synthesis of Porous Transparent Conductive Oxides by Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Aluminum-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles

Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) are highly desirable for numerous applications ranging from photovoltaics to light-emitting diodes and photoelectrochemical devices. Despite progress, it remains challenging to fabricate porous TCOs (pTCOs) that may provide, for instance, a hierarchical nanostructured morphology for the separation of photoexcited hole/electron couples. Here, we present a facile process for the fabrication of porous architectures of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), a low-cost and earth-abundant transparent conductive oxide. Three-dimensional nanostructured films of AZO with tunable porosities from 10 to 98% were rapidly self-assembled from flame-made nanoparticle aerosols. Successful Al doping was confirmed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. An optimal Al-doping level of 1% was found to induce the highest material conductivity, while a higher amount led to partial segregation and formation of aluminum oxide domains. A controllable semiconducting to conducting behavior with a resistivity change of more than 4 orders of magnitudes from about 3 × 102 to 9.4 × 106 Ω cm was observed by increasing the AZO film porosity from 10 to 98%. While the denser AZO morphologies may find immediate application as transparent electrodes, we demonstrate that the ultraporous semiconducting layers have potential as a light-driven gas sensor, showing a high response of 1.92–1 ppm of ethanol at room temperature. We believe that these tunable porous transparent conductive oxides and their scalable fabrication method may provide a highly performing material for future optoelectronic devices