jp5027916_si_001.pdf (1.39 MB)
Hierarchically-Structured NiO Nanoplatelets as Mesoscale p‑Type Photocathodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
journal contribution
posted on 2015-12-17, 03:02 authored by Cory J. Flynn, EunBi
E. Oh, Shannon M. McCullough, Robert W. Call, Carrie L. Donley, Rene Lopez, James F. CahoonA p-type metal oxide with high surface
area and good charge carrier
mobility is of paramount importance for development of tandem solar
fuel and dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices. Here, we report
the synthesis, hierarchical morphology, electrical properties, and
DSSC performance of mesoscale p-type NiO platelets. This material,
which exhibits lateral dimensions of 100 nm but thicknesses less than
10 nm, can be controllably functionalized with a high-density array
of vertical pores 4–6, 5–9, or 7–23 nm in diameter
depending on exact synthetic conditions. Thin films of this porous
but still quasi-two-dimensional material retain a high surface area
and exhibit electrical mobilities more than 10-fold higher than comparable
films of spherical particles with similar doping levels. These advantages
lead to a modest, 20–30% improvement in the performance of
DSSC devices under simulated 1-sun illumination. The capability to
rationally control morphology provides a route for continued development
of NiO as a high-efficiency material for tandem solar energy devices.