Hierarchically-Structured NiO Nanoplatelets as Mesoscale p-Type Photocathodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
By Flynn, Cory J.; Oh, EunBi E.; McCullough, Shannon M.; Call, Robert W.; Donley, Carrie L.; Lopez, Rene & Cahoon, James F.
Published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
2014
Abstract
A 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.