Nickel phosphide-embedded graphene as counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Nickel phosphide-embedded graphene, prepared by the hydrothermal reaction of red phosphorus, nickel chloride, and graphene oxide in a mixture of ethylene glycol-water, is investigated as the counter electrode of DSSCs. It is demonstrated that the DSSC with the nickel phosphide-embedded graphene as the new counter electrode presents an excellent performance competing with that of the Pt electrode.     

Amperometric determination of sulfide at a pre-oxidised nickel electrode in acidic media

The electrochemical response of a pre-oxidised nickel electrode to increasing additions of sulfide has been examined and shown to produce a stripping-like voltammetric wave. A mechanism is described based on the formation of nickel sulfide at the electrode surface from a non-electroactive nickel oxide layer. The analytical utility of the approach has been examined and a linear range from 1 to 140 microM and a limit of detection of 0.8 microM is achievable, depending on the accumulation time.     

染料敏化太阳能电池对电极

对电极是染料敏化太阳能电池的重要组成部分,改进对电极是提高其能量转换效率及降低成本的有效手段之一.本文重点综述了2008年以来染料敏化太阳能电池对电极的研究成果,详细介绍了各类对电极包括金属Pt、Au、Ni,纳米炭材料和导电聚合物等对电极的优点和制备工艺.Pt对电极性能最好,但是高成本限制了它在染料敏化太阳能电池产业化中的应用;新型的价格低廉、活性较高的纳米炭材料和导电聚合物及其复合材料等对电极在染料敏化太阳能电池的研究中逐渐引起人们的重视.     

Electrolytic nickel sulfide in a model electrochemical capacitor

Operation of an electrode made of electrolytic nickel sulfide in a prototype electrochemical capacitor with potassium hydroxide solutions of various concentrations was studied by cyclic voltammetry.     

Elevated Temperature Electrochemical Studies of Preoxidized Nickel Electrodes in the Presence of Sulfide

The electrochemical response of a preoxidized nickel electrode to increasing additions of sulfide has been examined over temperature range from 25 to 70 °C. In the presence of sulfide a stripping like response was observed at all temperatures. The results detailed show that as the temperature is increased the sensitivity increases from 3.4 to 13.5 A M^?1 for the determination of sulfide.     

碳纳米管负载Ni2P作为染料敏化太阳能电池对电极的性能研究

本文以碳纳米管(CNTs)与Ni2P纳米晶制备CNTs-Ni2P复合材料,首次研究其染料敏化太阳能电池(DSSCs)的光阴极材料性能.使用X射线衍射(XRD)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)测定材料结构,观察材料形貌.结果表明,复合材料由碳纳米管和六方结构的磷化镍构成,无其它磷化物杂相,磷化镍纳米晶(约10 nm)分散于CNTs表面.交流阻抗(EIS)测试显示,与CNTs和Ni2P对电极相比,CNTs-Ni2P对电极的电荷转移电阻和扩散阻抗较低,接近Pt-FTO对电极水平.CNTs-Ni2P对电极的DSSCs光电流达12.9 mA·cm-2,能量转化效率达5.6%,接近Pt-FTO对电极的DSSCs能量转化效率(5.9%).这归因于高电催化活性的磷化镍纳米晶与高电导CNTs的协同效应.     

Metal/metal sulfide functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes: FTO-free counter electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells

The use of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) thin films to replace conventional fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and both FTO and platinum (Pt) as the counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) requires surface modification due to high sheet resistance and charge transfer resistance. In this paper, we report a simple, solution-based method of preparing FTO-free counter electrodes based on metal (Pt) or metal sulfide (Co(8.4)S(8), Ni(3)S(2)) nanoparticles/CNT composite films to improve device performance. Based on electrochemical studies, the relative catalytic activity of the composite films was Pt > Co(8.4)S(8) > Ni(3)S(2). We achieved a maximum efficiency of 3.76% for the device with an FTO-free counter electrode (Pt/CNT). The device with an FTO- and Pt-free (CoS/CNT) counter electrode gives 3.13% efficiency.     

Influence of Modification of Counter Electrode on Photoelectric Properties of Dye-sensitized TiO2 Solar Cells

A dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cell(DYSC) was assembled, of which counter electrode was modified already by platinum, nickel and carbon. It was found that the DYSC had better photoelectric performance when the electrode was modified by platinum than by nickel and carbon. The influence of the incidence light wavelength on the incidence monochromatic photoelectric conversion effieieney(IPCE) was investigated.The result shows that the IPCE mainly depends on the short-circuit current density(Isc) of a DYSC, and the IPCE reaches 48.32% under the irradiation with the wavelength of 560 nm when the counter electrode of a DYSC was modified by platinum. The influence of incident light intensity on the photoelectric properties of a DYSC was also investigated. It was found that the Isc and open-circuit voltage(Voc) increased and the fill factor(ff) of the DYSC decreased with the increase of the incident light intensity.     

光电催化降解磺基水杨酸的研究

 建立了以刮浆工艺制得的TiO2／Ni为工作电极、泡沫镍为对电极、饱和甘汞电极为参比电极的光电催化反应体系,研究了在磺基水杨酸（SSal）的光电催化降解过程中,外加电压和溶液pH值对降解速率的影响．实验发现,外加阳极偏压为700mV时,SSal能发生有效降解,降解速率受溶液pH值的影响;随着SSal降解的进行,阳极表面电阻出现较大的变化．另外还研究了SSal光电催化降解过程中的电流变化特征．     

Economical and effective sulfide catalysts for dye-sensitized solar cells as counter electrodes

Molybdenum sulfide (MoS(2)) and tungsten sulfide (WS(2)) are proposed as counter electrode (CE) catalysts in a I(3)(-)/I(-) and T(2)/T(-) based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) system. The I(3)(-)/I(-) based DSCs using MoS(2) and WS(2) CEs achieved power conversion efficiencies of 7.59% and 7.73%, respectively.     

量子点敏化太阳能电池对电极研究进展

对电极(CE)是量子点敏化太阳能电池(QDSSCs)的重要组成部分之一,改进对电极的综合性能是提高QDSSCs能量转换效率(PCE)的有效手段。本文简要介绍了对电极应具备的性能,并按不同材料的使用,分类阐述了金属、导电聚合物、碳、无机金属化合物以及它们的复合材料对电极的制备方法和研究进展。其中,以铜、钴、铅的硫化物等为主的无机金属化合物对电极催化活性高,成本低,研究最为广泛;导电聚合物、新型碳材料以及各类复合材料对电极也因其各自的优势在量子点敏化太阳能电池中的研究越来越成熟。     

CoS制备方法研究及在染料敏化电池中应用

通过简单的气-固反应法在氟掺杂的氧化锡导电玻璃(FTO)上成功制备了CoS对电极,并通过优化工艺,进一步确认了制备CoS的最佳浓度。通过扫面电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、拉曼光谱、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、电化学阻抗谱(EIS)、循环伏安测试(CV)、Tafel极化曲线以及光电流密度-电压特性曲线(J-V)分别研究了其表面形貌、物质结构、电催化性能和光电性能。结果表明20%浓度制备的CoS对电极具有较高的电催化活性,在一个标准太阳光照条件下(100mW.cm_-2),其光电转换效率(PCE)是7.81%,短路电流密度(J_sc)是17.3 mA.cm_?2,开路电压(V_oc)是0.74 V,填充因子(FF)是0.61,显示出与Pt对电极(7.97%)相比拟的性能。说明通过这种气-固反应法采用浓度为20%醋酸钴溶液制备的CoS薄膜具有高催化性、低成本的优点,可代替Pt作为染料敏化电池对电极。、关键词用黑体,及关键词内容用宋体。     

Electrochemical Characterization of Nickel Electrodes in Phosphate and Carbonate Electrolytes in View of Assessing a Medical Diagnostic Device for the Detection of Early Diabetes

In view of optimizing a multi‐electrode device using proprietary technology for noninvasive assessment of eccrine sweat gland activity and thus the early detection of diabetes, we thoroughly explored the electrochemical behavior of a nickel electrode in a three‐electrode set up combining a nickel counter electrode and a nickel pseudo‐reference electrode in synthetic buffered phosphate and carbonate solutions in presence of chloride, lactate and urea that mimic the composition of physiological sweat. This approach provides insight into the origin of the onset of responses measured upon the application of low voltage potential with variable amplitudes to Ni electrodes on the skin. For low voltage amplitude of ca. ΔE=0.6 V, the electrochemical reactions measured at the electrodes are those related to the oxidation of Ni leading to the formation of a passive layer, as well as the reduction of this passive layer. For voltage amplitude higher than 1 V, or current densities higher than 1 mA/cm², the breakdown of the passive layer becomes the main electrochemical anodic reaction, while its reduction and the electrolytic solution govern the cathode reactions. This brings explanation of the nonlinear current‐voltage features measured during the clinic tests. Finally, the obtained results make possible the definition of the experimental electrochemical conditions where the Ni electrodes can be renewed.     

三种CuS对电极的制备及其对量子点敏化太阳能电池光电性能的影响

近几年,量子点敏化太阳能电池因其具有低成本、易合成、高的光电转换效率等优点而广受关注. 半导体金属硫化物具有良好的物理和化学性质,被广泛应用于各个领域,其中,铜硫化物凭借其优异的电化学催化活性,而成为量子点敏化太阳能电池良好的对电极材料. 本文通过3种不同的方法在FTO表面生长CuS纳米阵列（依次记为CuS-1、CuS-2、CuS-3）,并对样品进行晶相表征、表面形貌分析、电化学性能测试以及相应量子点敏化太阳能电池器件组装,最终发现CuS-3样品具有最优的光电性能.     

In situ infrared spectroelectrochemical studies of the corrosion of a nickel electrode as a function of applied potential in cyanate, thiocyanate, and selenocyanate solutions

This paper presents the first subtractively normalized interfacial Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (SNIFTIRS) study of the corrosion system Ni/XCN(-) (X=O, S, Se), pH 11, [XCN(-)]=0.05 molL(-1), supporting electrolyte 0.1 molL(-1) KNO(3), for a nickel electrode as a function of applied potential. Cyclic voltammograms, in situ infrared spectra, and current-potential data (recorded while the infrared spectral acquisition was in progress) were recorded for a nickel electrode in a three-electrode thin-layer cell containing the pseudohalides OCN(-), SCN(-), or SeCN(-) ions at pH 11 in a supporting electrolyte of KNO(3). In general, the data showed that all of the pseudohalide ions studied caused corrosion of the nickel electrode by forming the respective nickel-pseudohalide complex ion species as the potential was stepped anodically. Two of the ions, SCN(-) and SeCN(-), caused surface modifications to the electrode which influenced the electrochemical reactions with respect to CO(2) formation. The Ni/SeCN(-) system, for instance, exhibited signs of instability during the spectroelectrochemical experiment, red-brown coatings observed on the electrode caused by the decomposition of the selenocyanate ion to colloidally dispersed elemental selenium. The selenium coated the electrode, hence modifying the surface and consequently the electrochemistry, by causing the "early" appearance of CO(2)-associated IR peaks in SNIFTIRS spectra recorded from the electrode system at potentials lower than those for the Ni/OCN(-) system. In contrast, CO(2) formation at the electrode surface was not observed in the Ni/SCN(-) system, which was likely to have been caused by nickel sulfide poisoning of the electrode surface. In the Ni/SCN(-) and Ni/SeCN(-) systems, IR spectra also indicated the buildup of Ni(SCN)(2) and Ni(SeCN)(2) salts in the thin layer by the appearance of a peak at ca. 2165 cm(-1) at anodic values of the applied potential.     

Solution processed transition metal sulfides: application as counter electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs)

A solution processed method for fabricating transition metal sulfides on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) as efficient counter electrodes in iodine/iodide based solar cells has been demonstrated. Conversion efficiencies of 7.01% and 6.50% were obtained for nickel and cobalt sulfides, respectively, comparable to the conventional thermally platinised FTO electrodes (7.32%). A comparable charge transfer resistance of Ni(3)S(2) and Co(8.4)S(8) to conventional Pt was found to be a key factor for such high efficiencies. Cyclic voltammetry, Kelvin probe microscopy, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, and Tafel polarization were performed to study the underlying reasons behind such efficient counter electrode performance.     

Three-dimensional nano-foam of few-layer graphene grown by CVD for DSSC

We report a robust and direct route to fabricate a three-dimensional nano-foam of few-layer graphene (3D-NFG) with large area coverage via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. Pyrolysis of polymer/nickel precursor film under a hydrogen environment, simply prepared by spin-coating, leads to the creation of nano-foam in the film and the reduction process of nickel ions. Carbonized-C and the nickel nano-frame formed from the pyrolysis are used as a solid carbon source and as a catalyst for the growth of graphene under CVD conditions, respectively. We investigate the use of 3D-NFG, with the advantage of large surface area and high conductivity, as an alternative to the Pt counter electrode material in dye sensitized solar cells. The excellent properties of 3D-NFG, fabricated in this simple and direct manner, suggest a great potential for interconnected graphene networks in electronic devices and photocatalytic sensors as well as in energy-related materials.     

Prevention of anode fouling during the electrochemical perfluorination of aromatic carboxylic acid chlorides

The electrochemical perfluorination of benzoyl chloride, p-substituted benzoyl chlorides and cyclo-hexane carboxylic acid chloride in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (AHF) medium on nickel electrode is reported. Experimental conditions suppressing polymeric film formation on the electrode are optimized. Addition of 1 wt.% dimethyl sulfide based on the volume of AHF in the initial stage of electrochemical fluorination and maintenance of the reactant and intermediate concentrations below a critical level ensured electrochemical fluorination of all the reactants without fouling of the electrode surface. Presence of p-substituents in the benzene ring improved the selectivity of alicyclic perfluoro carboxylic acid. GC/MS and ¹⁹F NMR data for the major perfluorinated products are reported.     

Titrage potentiometrique des thiols en milieu organique a l'aide d'une electrode a monocristal de sulfure d'argent: Comparaison avec une electrode argent-sulfure d'argent classique

The responses of the silver sulfide membrane electrode (the so-called sulfideselective membrane electrode) to different primary and aromatic thiols and to hydrogen sulfide have been studied in an ethanol-benzene mixture. They have not been found in good agreement with the Nernst relationship. However, this electrode can readily be used to follow, by potentiometry, the precipitation of thiols and thiol-hydrogen sulfide mixtures with silver ions. The observed potential breaks are similar to those obtained with a conventional silver-silver sulfide electrode. As it needs neither pretreatment nor maintenance, the silver sulfide membrane electrode is therefore suitable for determining hydrogen sulfide and thiols in petroleum products by potentiometric titration.     

Electrooxidation of Pentlandite in a Carbonate Solution

Electrooxidation of pentlandite in a carbonate solution involves the formation of surface sulfide minerals of nickel and iron of variable composition, sulfur, and iron and nickel hydroxides. In parallel, sulfide sulfur oxidizes in a narrow potential range to sulfate ions.