Electrochemical Properties of Cu(II/I)-Based Redox Mediators for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

• Three Cu(II/I)-phenanthroline and Cu(II/I)-bipyridine redox mediators are studied on various electrodes and in variety of electrolyte solutions using cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy on symmetrical dummy cells. Graphene-based catalysts provide comparably high activity to PEDOT, and both catalysts outperform the activity of platinum. The charge-transfer kinetics and the diffusion rate significantly slowdown in the presence 4-tert-butylpyridine. This effect is specific only for Cu-mediators (is missing for Co-mediators), and is ascribed to a sensitivity of the coordination sphere of the Cu(II)-species to structural and substitutional changes. The 'Zombie Cells' made from symmetrical PEDOT/PEDOT devices exhibit enhanced charge-transfer rate and enhanced diffusion resistance. Electrochemically clean Cu(II)-bipyridine species are prepared, for the first time, by electrochemical oxidation of the parent Cu(I) complexes. Our preparative electrolysis brings numerous advantages over the standard chemical syntheses of the Cu(II)-bipyridine complexes. The superior performance of electrochemically grown clean Cu(II)-bipyridine complex is demonstrated on practical dye-sensitized solar cells. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Fysikalisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Physical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Graphene

Dye sensitized solar cell

Cu-complexes

Redox mediators

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)