Cu@C nanoparticles dispersed RTILs used in the DSSC electrolyte

To enhance efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), a very small amount of Cu@C nanoparticles (prepared by carbonization of Cu 2+–starch complexes at 573 K) is dispersed in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) (i.e., [bmim][BF 4] and [bmim][PF 6]), which is used as an electrolyte of the D...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 619; no. 1; pp. 112 - 114
Main Authors:	Chen, F.-L., Letortu, A., Liao, C.-Y., Tsai, C.-K., Huang, H.-L., Sun, I-W., Wei, Y.-L., Paul Wang, H.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Elsevier B.V 01-07-2010
Subjects:	Cu@C DSSC Ionic liquid XANES XANES Cu@C Ionic liquid DSSC
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	To enhance efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), a very small amount of Cu@C nanoparticles (prepared by carbonization of Cu 2+–starch complexes at 573 K) is dispersed in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) (i.e., [bmim][BF 4] and [bmim][PF 6]), which is used as an electrolyte of the DSSC. By XRD and TEM, it is found that the Cu@C nanoparticles having Cu diameters of 7 and 18 nm are coated with a carbon shell (3–5 nm in thickness). Experimentally, the electrical conductivity of the RTILs dispersed with 0.1% of the Cu@C nanoparticles is increased by 8–15% in comparison with the plain RTIL. The X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra of copper show that about 7% of Cu in the Cu@C nanoparticles dispersed RTILs are oxidized to CuO or Cu 2O. The simulated solar efficiency of the DSSC utilizing the Cu@C nanoparticles dispersed RTIL electrolyte can be increased as high as 60%.
ISSN:	0168-9002 1872-9576
DOI:	10.1016/j.nima.2010.02.075